He is a man in rugby league circles that is respected, and when he talks, people listen – so when now retired veteran QLD and Australia prop Petero Civoniceva says that the ultimate rugby league accolade is representing your country, you know how much it means.
For Petero, whilst there is no higher honour than having the chance to play for your country, he does admit that the unbridled passion in Origin footy, is something will never be matched by any other form of rugby league.
The debate about what is better wages on, as upon a live cross to the Eighth Immortal in Andrew Johns, the man regarded as the greatest halfback ever said that Origin football is better than playing for Australia.
For Test legend John Raper, he was far from impressed with the comments made by Johns.
“I don’t like people saying playing for their state and not their country is a better thing,” Raper said.
In response, Johns put his answer mildly and simply.
“If you ask every Queenslander from when Artie (Beetson) started, they would say Queensland is No.1 for them, and that’s why they probably dominate at the moment,” he said.
“It’s like a dream representing your country, but Origin is so much bigger. It’s the ultimate test.
“It’s getting so big, I think it’s eventually going to take away from the NRL season.”
Whilst Civoniceva took pride in both his QLD and Australian jersey, he said that there is an added sense of pride that comes with pulling on the green and gold jumper.
“There’s no greater honour than pulling on the green and gold jumper,” he said.