League: Price has rep goals

Veteran frontrower Steve Price is adamant he wants to continue playing representative league next year.

Price, who turns 36 at the start of the new NRL season in March, said the Warriors hadn't talked to him about the issue, but State of Origin and test football remained goals for him.

"Of course, when I'm playing in the NRL I want to play for Queensland and Australia," he said.

"You have to be able to play the footy to do that. From the Warriors' perspective, you'd say you want that to happen, wouldn't you?

"If I'm not able to play the football, I won't be in the Warriors' team anyway. I can't see it being a negative for the club."

In a shock move by the Warriors last month, Price was replaced as skipper by second rower Simon Mannering.

While the club have said otherwise, there have been suggestions that Price's wish to continue with representative football might have been a reason for the decision.

Injuries and State of Origin commitments limited Price to 14 NRL appearances this year and Ivan Cleary indicated in August that Price's representative commitments would be discussed with him.

However, Price said yesterday that, of the matches he missed through injury, only one was because of representative duty - when he was stood down after being floored by a punch in Origin 3.

- NZPA