Money can't buy the experience promising young Brisbane prop forward Dave Hala will get when he ventures to Penrith for his third NRL game on Friday.

Waiting for him at the foot of the mountains will be Penrith's own man mountain, Petero Civoniceva, who at 35 is still the game's measuring stick for front-rowers.

Hala, 21, is rebuilding his career following back surgery that sidelined him in 2010.

He was a key member of the unbeaten 2006 Junior Kangaroos touring side to the UK that included Israel Folau, Mitchell Pearce, Chris Sandow and Shannon Walker.

The chance to measure himself against a warrior like Civoniceva will be a special experience for him.

Hala, who comes from Redcliffe, the same Brisbane club as Civoniceva, had impressed some good judges until a back injury stalled his career after he made his NRL debut against Canberra in July, 2009.

He played almost 40 minutes off the bench last week against Melbourne, using his 109kg frame to cart the ball up fearlessly a number of times.

"He was really effective with the ball but a little loose, as we all were, in defence," said Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin.

"He's a big strong kid and this will be his third game and he's coming along nicely.

Griffin agreed Hala's development would benefit greatly from playing against such a class act as Civoniceva who was outstanding in Australia's 20-10 Test win over New Zealand last week.

"I think he will get something out of it and Penrith, not just Petero, with Sam McKendry, Trent Waterhouse, Tim Grant and Luke Lewis coming back this week.

"They're a representative pack and Penrith at Penrith is a real challenge for any player."

Star centre Justin Hodges, who re-signed on Wednesday until 2014, said a win against Penrith on Friday night could set Brisbane up well to negotiate their State of Origin stretch and possibly allow them to give their representative players like Darren Lockyer some time off.

"If we can get a win this week it will put us in good stead to get through the Origin period and maybe rest guys like Locky and myself and Sammy (Sam Thaiday).

"We mightn't all get the same week off but we can have a week off here and there and freshen up.

"We always seem to struggle during the Origin period and three or four weeks after it because the guys are always tired and fatigued.

"We have to win first to be able to do that."

Hodges, who said he wanted to play Origin in Lockyer's last year, said the representative players always wanted to back up.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP