Thornlie Senior High School welcomed NRL legend Petero Civoniceva last month to address its Rugby Academy students.
Mr Civoniceva received a thunderous round of applause from the students when he entered the gym to speak to them.
Standing at six feet three inches Mr Civoniceva cut an impressive figure and when he addressed the students he said he had started his career sitting exactly the way the students were.
“I started off just like you guys are right now,” he said.
“I’ve had disappointment and push backs but you’ve got to keep coming back from that and you have to just try your best.”
Mr Civoniceva talked about his final year in high school when he made the reserve team.
“I was walking to the bus, I got a tap on the shoulder and it was a Broncos scout who offered me an opportunity,” he said.
“I will never forget that and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that coming true but it did.
“It was the start of a long journey.”
Mr Civoniceva also took part in a question and answer session with the students and he said sports was fantastic, that it had taught him about teamwork and courage.
“I was really shy as a kid,” he said.
“Sport brought me out of it and taught me responsibility.
“It also lifts your sprits especially when you are cheering for a team mate and they are cheering for you.”
At the end of the presentation Mr Civoniceva enjoyed some rugby lessons with the students.
Thornlie Senior High School principal Donna McDonald said it was a wonderful opportunity to have had an NRL legend visit the school.
“It was great having Petero visit us,” she said.
“We are a rugby specialist school and the students loved it.”
