10 May 2012

Civoniceva announces Rugby League retirement

12:36 pm on 10 May 2012

The record-breaking Australian forward Petero Civoniceva has announced he'll retire from rugby league at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old Brisbane Broncos prop says while he'd have liked to have continued forever he believes the time is right to quit.

Civoniceva has played 45 tests for Kangaroos and 30 State of Origin games for Queensland, both records for a forward.

He has also played 297 NRL games, including 225 for Brisbane, since making his debut for the Broncos in 1998.

Civoniceva is keen to play in this year's State of Origin which begins in a fortnight, with Queensland chasing a seventh straight series win.