Civoniceva brands NSW's Poore 'gutless' - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Civoniceva brands NSW's Poore 'gutless'

By Wayne Heming 16/07/2009 07:40:24 PM Comments (0)

Respected prop Petero Civoniceva has unleashed a verbal volley at NSW forward Justin Poore, describing his treatment of injured Queenslander Steve Price during Wednesday night's fiery finish to Origin III as "gutless".

The Queensland camp was seething after the 28-16 loss with man-of-the-series Greg Inglis and centre Justin Hodges labelling the Blues' treatment of an unconscious Price as a "dog act".

An angry Civoniceva - ruled out of his 26th Origin with a foot injury which appears to have claimed his 2009 season - said he was "disgusted" by Poore's actions which triggered a violent end to the clash.

Blues forward Trent Waterhouse was sent off while rival forwards Sam Thaiday and Ben Creagh were sin binned in a ferocious finale to a spiteful game.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," Civoniceva told AAP on Thursday.

"Pricey was pretty crook on the ground and Poore lifted him up by the jumper and rather than put him down, he just dropped him.

"It was one of the lowest acts I've seen on a football field.

"If the guy is trying to build his character or being tough ... I thought it was pretty gutless."

Poore, who traded punches with Queensland forward Michael Crocker in Sydney last month, shrugged off Queensland's accusations of poor sportsmanship when he and Blues' teammates arrived back in Sydney.

"It doesn't bother me," said Poore.

"It's just footy, I'm glad we won."

Civoniceva will undergo surgery on his foot this month which will end his NRL season.

The injury has also ruled him out of Australia's end of year Quad Series in England but he is keen to aim up for Queensland next year.

"I'm very keen to keep going (in Origin)," he said.

"I've spoken to Pricey and he is keen to play as well."

The Penrith prop, who tore the tendon off the bone in his big toe in last month's second Origin game in Sydney, will see a specialist when he returns from overseas next week.

He said he had given up hope of being able to get back on the field this season.

"I'll be fine to start next season if I have the surgery," he said.

"We were hoping a rest of six or seven weeks would help it mend but the doctor feels surgery is the only solution."

Civoniceva has played 31 times for Australia and was closing on St George great John Raper's forward's record of 39 Tests.

"I'd set myself a goal at the start of the year to go away on tour again but now I'll just have to look ahead to next year," he said.

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