Penrith prop Tim Grant has warned Brisbane aren’t the only team with something to play for when the two teams meet in what could be his former teammate and mentor Petero Civoniceva’s last NRL game on Friday night.
A sellout crowd has been tipped at Suncorp Stadium, as the eighth-placed Broncos chase a victory to lock in a finals spot while a loss could see them leapfrogged by ninth-placed Wests Tigers if they beat Melbourne at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday night.
While Penrith sit second last on the ladder, Grant said the Panthers were on a mission to finish the season on a high after consecutive wins over Gold Coast and the Warriors.
“The stage is set. It’s going to be a packed house and a big occasion for us because we want to go up there and restore faith in our fans by delivering in this game and leave them a little bit of something in the back of their minds for next year,” Grant told AAP.
“I think it will be a fast game that’s for sure.”
Headed for retirement Civoniceva, who played four seasons with Penrith, made a huge impression on Grant, who said he’s still learning from the 36-year-old prop great.
“The lesson goes on and on. I learnt so much from him and I still do. To be there in his last game is a very special moment for me,” Grant said.
“He’s been great for the game but everything comes to an end.
“You just look at the bloke and what he does on and off the field and if you don’t take a lesson from that you’re an idiot.”
Grant, 24, showed just how grateful he was when he flattened Queensland’s Civoniceva in the opening hit of State of Origin game two in which the Penrith star made his debut for NSW.
“The way I look at it is that I was lucky to play against him at Origin level, that was something I always wanted to do and I’m very proud to have done it,” Grant said.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said a victory would be a great springboard into 2013 after four wins from their past six games.
“We’ve gained a little bit in the last six weeks,” Cleary said.
“We’re going up there certainly with more confidence than we had a month or two back.”