NRL: Civoniceva to retire

Petero Civoniceva has played 297 NRL games. Photo / Getty Images

Record-breaking forward Petero Civoniceva has announced he'll retire from rugby league at the end of the season.

"The time is right,'' said 36-year-old Brisbane prop Civoniceva on Tuesday.

"It's a hard decision to make. We would all like to continue forever.''

Civoniceva has played 45 Tests for Australia and 30 State of Origin games for Queensland - both records for a forward.

He has also played 297 NRL games, including 225 for Brisbane, since he debuted for the Broncos in round 7, 1998.

Civoniceva is still keen to play in one last State of Origin series this year as Queensland pursues a seventh straight series win.

- AAP