Petero Civoniceva –  the last man to wear the No.10 jersey in a Brisbane grand final victory – has been "blown away" by what Adam Blair has brought to the Broncos this season.

Blair made a high-profile late pre-season switch to the Broncos following an unhappy three-year stint at the Wests Tigers. Former Broncos skipper Civoniceva – who was part of the club's 2006 premiership success – said Blair had fitted into the club's culture.

"It wasn't a surprise," Blair said. "He was a tough, uncompromising player in his time with the Melbourne Storm. He really thrived in that culture that [Storm coach] Craig Bellamy created at Melbourne. Going to the Wests Tigers, it wasn't the same. He is the type of player that finds his best when he is an environment where there is a strong culture.

"He takes ownership of that. At the Tigers it wasn't that way. He was a big signing and the pressure with that, playing at a club that always had issues.

"I've been blown away by what he has brought to Brisbane."

While some people questioned Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett's decision to recruit Blair, Civoniceva backed the move. Civoniceva said Blair had added stability to the forward pack.

"There was a little bit of doubt around him," Civoniceva said. "He is a great signing. I thought bringing him to the club gave them something because of his leadership and toughness. He has thrived under Wayne and has jelled with the playing group. He is a great senior leader at the Broncos.

"I've had a huge amount of respect for him. It's no surprise he finds himself in another grand final. He had thrived in the Broncos culture. He has a strong connection  to Wayne."

The Broncos have the edge in terms of premiership success with Justin Hodges, Darius Boyd, Sam Thaiday and Corey Parker having won titles plus the advantage of coach Wayne Bennett. The Cowboys have two players in Johnathan Thurston and Ben Hannant to have won titles. Blair played in a grand final loss to Melbourne in 2006, and was also part of the Storm's grand final defeat to Manly two years later. North Queensland centre Kane Linnett lost the 2010 grand final to Boyd's St George Illawarra side while playing for the Roosters.

Civoniceva said the previous grand final experience will count in favour of Brisbane.

"It will be huge," Civoniceva said. "All that big match experience will help guide that team. It'll settle nerves and be able to speak from experience and letting the younger players know what to expect and help their performance. It certainly helps in a big way when you have players that have been there and done it before."

Civoniceva, who will be at ANZ Stadium to watch the game, predicted the Broncos to win by six.

"I'm just a proud Queenslander," Civoniceva said. "Two great teams and all of Queensland will be smiling. But with my history I'll be [cheering] the Broncos."