Hearing of his former NRL rival’s heartbreak in coming to terms with the loss of a beloved mentor was the trigger behind Petero Civoniceva’s decision to issue a compelling call to arms.
The Brisbane Broncos legend waged many a battle with former Sydney, Parramatta and South Sydney forward Dean Widders over the course of almost a decade.
Petero Civoniceva has joined forces with the NRL and the federal government to promote the importance of bowel cancer awareness.Credit: Getty
Widders was motivated throughout his career by Quentin Pongia, a champion of 35 Tests for New Zealand who tragically died of bowel cancer in 2019.
Listening to his old opponent divulge his experiences with the disease was the last straw for Civoniceva, who joined forces with the NRL and the federal government to spearhead the Get It 2gether campaign.
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“That was pretty confronting, hearing of his experience, but this is an experience across Australia,” Civoniceva said.
“This is a subject that has touched so many lives, and knowing that, I think we’ve got to be better.
“We’ve got to do better, and having these conversations is an absolute start to that in breaking down those stigmas.”
The campaign was designed as a catalyst to get more Australians aged 50 to 74 to take the free bowel cancer screening test, which is currently completed by just two in five people.
Motivated by the goal of saving 84,000 lives by 2040, the NRL has launched a competition for rugby league fans, with four all-expenses-paid tickets to the October 1 grand final up for grabs.
Coming to terms with life after his rugby league glory days has made Civoniceva acutely aware of his health.
His four children cling to his every move, only strengthening the 47-year-old’s desire to remain involved with various initiatives.
Petero Civoniceva has remained active since retiring from the NRL.Credit: Paul Rovere
These include his work with Deadly Choices to encourage a healthy lifestyle, his ambassador role with the Arthur Beetson Future Immortals Tour, and of course, Get It 2gether.
Becoming so immersed in a host of communities enabled Civoniceva to thwart the post-playing demons that have plagued so many others, and to light a fire under his fellow past players to remain vigilant about all aspects of their wellbeing.
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He said many athletes often felt lost and isolated in retirement, but by forging together under initiatives such as Get it 2gether, a gateway to discussing their struggles could open.
“It’s obviously a huge change in your life, and from a young age, you’re virtually being part of a system where you’re told what to do, eat and wear, so when you come out of that, there’s no doubt there’s an adjustment,” Civoniceva said.
“What’s helped me is my connection to community, and I think I’ve always had a focus away from sport in community when I was involved in different projects – working with schools, footy clubs and different charity organisations.
“I think those connections helped me in that transition because I had a network of people that I was involved with outside the game.
“Being able to use my profile to speak to other men about the importance of getting your health checked … I’ve loved the opportunity.”
To enter the NRL’s VIP Seat Experience competition – including flights, accommodation, VIP seats, and a hospitality package – simply answer the question on the NRL website by Wednesday about why it’s time for you to “give a crap” about your health by checking for signs of bowel cancer.