Zorba's Zone: Father time catches us all

There is no sadder sight in sport than watching a former champion playing on a season too long.

Every player, no matter his ability, reaches a use-by date at some stage.

Some know it within themselves and call it quits at the right time.

Others need a tap on the shoulder to tell them Father Time has caught up.

I remember grabbing an old team-mate's boots and dumping them into a bin at the end of the season.

He came at me wanting to know what the hell I was playing at.

I gave it to him straight; saying that I had too much respect for him as a player and a person to watch him go through another year when I knew he was a spent force.

I reckon Ben Hornby, Dean Young, Luke Burt and Nathan Hindmarsh got it right when they decided to pull the curtain on their stellar careers at the end of the season.

They will be given a terrific farewell at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night and leave the game with reputations intact, not damaged.

They've definitely got nothing left to give and it would have been a massive error of judgment for any of them to even consider playing on in 2013.

Another player farewelling us soon is Brisbane warhorse Petero Civoniceva.

Petero has been a wonderful servant for Brisbane, Penrith, Queensland and Australia over a long period.

He has done it in the toughest position of them all and is respected by everyone in the game.

But some people are suggesting he stayed around 12 months too long.

I've got to agree to an extent as Civoniceva hasn't had a great impact at the Broncos this season.

It was sad to see his game time limited last Friday night as Manly belted Brisbane into submission at Brookie.

I'm used to seeing Petero dish out the punishment, not cop it.

He'd be the first to admit his form has been average this year and there's no doubt Brisbane have struggled as a result.

Let's hope the big fella goes out with a bang and not a whimper when he is afforded an emotional farewell at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Brisbane need to beat the Panthers to make the finals and surely they will lift despite their ordinary form.

I'm tipping them but reckon Newcastle will spring a surprise and beat Souths in the other Friday night match.

The rest of the winners will be: Manly, Storm, Bulldogs, Raiders, Cowboys and Dragons.
Until next time we meet...