The New Zealand Warriors have reportedly lost the services of skipper Steve Price for their crucial National Rugby League match against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
The Queensland prop has been in doubt after he was knocked out during a punch-up late in the third and final State of Origin
clash in Brisbane last night.
This afternoon the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Price has been ruled out of the Roosters match, though this is yet to be confirmed by Warriors management here.
Club coach Ivan Cleary said just before noon today that he had yet to receive an update on Price's condition.
"It's just going to be something we have to monitor and find out a little more of," he said.
"His condition and his availability, that's in the hands of the doctors."
With Price ruled out for the trip to Sydney Football Stadium, the Warriors would use the same front row rotation as last weekend, when he was unavailable because of Origin duty, Cleary said.
In the 18-14 defeat to the Bulldogs last Sunday, the Warriors started with Sam Rapira and Russell Packer, and had Jesse Royal and Ben Matulino coming off the bench.
Price was knocked out while trading blows with opposition prop Brett White as New South Wales scored a 28-16 win to avoid a whitewash.
White appeared to land the decisive punch just as team-mate Trent Waterhouse joined in the fray.
Waterhouse's role in charging in and tackling Price saw him become the first NSW player to be sent off in Origin history.
Price was taken off the field with his neck in a brace and blood coming from his nose and mouth.
Cleary watched the incident on television and admitted he wondered what his skipper was up to.
"I saw Pricey look to shape up and I thought, 'What's he doing, nothing will happen there'."
When a reply of the actual fight was shown moments later, "I thought, 'Oh no.'
"With all due respect to Pricey I couldn't imagine him going great in fight.
"It's pretty disappointing, but what do you do? You just hope he's alright."
Cleary agreed that he was surprised that Price was involved in a scrap, as it seemed out of character for him.
"I am really. I guess we'll hear the story about that later on."
Queensland medical staff began monitoring Price after the match, with team doctor Roy Saunders saying the player "copped a good concussion".
"We'll be keeping a very close eye on him for the next 24 hours to make sure nothing deteriorates.
"Everybody's brain recovers differently."
- NZPA
The New Zealand Warriors have reportedly lost the services of skipper Steve Price for their crucial National Rugby League match against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
The Queensland prop has been in doubt after he was knocked out during a punch-up late in the third and final State of Origin
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