League: Price's pride at beating the odds

Steve Price will become just the 11th player to chalk up 300 first grade games when takes the field against the Eels on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

Skipper Steve Price will lead out the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday night with a sense of pride at having beaten the odds to join a select group.

Price, who turns 35 tomorrow, will notch up his 300th National Rugby League (NRL) appearance in the Warriors' season opener against Parramatta in Auckland.

He will be 11th player to achieve the feat since the competition began 101 years ago, and he follows retired former clubmate Ruben Wiki, who became a triple centurion last season.

After an initial quip that the milestone "means I've been around for a while", Price said today that reaching 300 would be a special moment for him.

"There's been only 10 guys who have done it previously, so to be a member of that club is pretty exciting, when you consider how many players have played in the NRL since 1908 and then how many people have aspired to play NRL in that time," he said.

"The percentages just keep getting smaller and smaller, and to be one of those is quite remarkable. I can't believe it but I'm quite proud of it."

His tally includes 222 matches for the Bulldogs, for whom he made his first-grade debut in 1994, going on to become skipper until he joined the Warriors at the end of the 2004 season.

During his time with the Sydney club, there were two premiership titles, although he missed the second grand final, in 2004, through injury.

He said it was difficult to highlight any one game as the most memorable of his NRL career, but if he had to it, it would be a match without a Warrior connection.

Late in the 2002 season, the Bulldogs found themselves docked a massive 37 points for salary cap breaches, a penalty that dropped them from the top of the table to the bottom in one fell swoop.

Guaranteed the wooden spoon, they hosted Brisbane at the Sydney Showground in the final round, with the Broncos needing victory to secure the minor premiership.

"It was just a huge night," Price recalled.

"We had nothing to play for but we absolutely belted them.

"We got cheered off after the game and I've never felt closer to the Bulldog supporters than then.

"It was very emotional and it was probably one of the best ways you could finish the season other than have a trophy with you.

"That was probably the greatest moment, but I've had plenty, plenty."

The 25-18 result meant the Warriors ended as the minor premiers.

Price also has 15 tests for Australia to his name, missing last year's World Cup final through injury, and 25 State of Origin appearances for Queensland.

Apart from the usual bumps and bruises from the pre-season trials, he was approaching the new campaign feeling in good shape.

"I think it's a lot to do with the boys as well," he said.

"There's been a great atmosphere since we came back on January 5. They've really knuckled down and got the job done."

Having made the final four last season, the Warriors are third-favourite among Australian bookmakers to go on and land their first NRL title come October.

The club have never been so highly fancied before in their 14-year history, but they showed their potential with wins in all three trials.

"I can't remember when we won one trial, so to win three has been good," Price said.

"But it doesn't make us title favourites. It just gives us a bit of confidence. We have to start the season well, and hopefully that's a pointer towards that."

He said the good pre-season results hadn't gone to players' heads and coach Ivan Cleary had a lot to do with that.

"He set us tasks as individuals and as a team in what we want to achieve and we've been able to tick those off, probably not as good as we've wanted, but that's also good," he said.

"If you get everything going too well, there is a chance the guys will get complacent."

Another guard against falling into the comfort zone was the depth of the squad this season.

Three of the Warriors' major signings - winger Denan Kemp, five-eighth Joel Moon and backrower Jacob Lillyman - will make their debuts for the club against the Eels.

"You see the team that's been named and the guys who aren't in it, and that's another reason you can't be complacent," Price said.

"You have to be fighting hard every single time you turn up here and you have to make sure your preparation is right.

"If not, the coach can just swap you with someone else and everyone wants to be in that first 17."

- NZPA