BETTER WITH AGE
IF RUGBY LEAGUE is evermore a young man’s (and women’s) game, why are so many of the highest-paid superstars in the NRL in their early to mid-30s? Further, why aren’t these Dad’s Army dudes being shown up week in, week out by the flashy youngsters? Why isn’t the average age of players at the elite level falling dramatically as we supposedly fall more and more in love with the supersonic whiz-kid?
The answer is pretty simple. Experience is still the most valuable asset to a rugby league player. Hands down. No questions asked. Speaking of … we asked former Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, Queensland Maroons, Australia and Fiji enforcer Petero Civoniceva a question about longevity back in 2017: what was the secret to his ability to keep going, to keep improving, especially in such a brutal position like prop?
“As a front-rower, you certainly get to that stage in your career where things become a lot more comfortable,” the great man shared with Inside Sport. “When you’re younger, you really haven’t proven yourself, but as time goes on you understand what you need to do in terms of preparation to get yourself up to play. It’s also about that responsibility you feel to the team; if you’re not doing your job and going forward for the team, it makes things hard.
“Having the likes of Darren Lockyer and that star-studded backline we had over the years at the Broncos, your job had to be done, otherwise it was going to make things hard. In the early days there was Steve Renouf and Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri and later on, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, some great players who you played in front of, but you still had to do your job.”
Vast experience is the one trait an up-and-coming young gun can’t be transplanted with. Throw a kid-dynamo into the gym as much as you like,
