In this edited extract from his new book, Steve Price talks of his move from the Bulldogs to the Warriors.
KEY POINTS:
I still love the Bulldogs - that will never change - but in 2004 I had started to see things differently. I've mentioned Garry Hughes' sacking. The biggest gripe I had about Garry's departure was the club's reason for doing it.
About a week after the Coffs Harbour scandal broke - when a woman claimed she had been sexually assaulted by a number of Bulldogs players after our trial match against Canberra - we copped a whole heap of criticism for players turning up to police interviews wearing shorts and T-shirts. Apparently those concerned were being disrespectful towards what was obviously a very serious issue.
The truth is that none of the players knew that they were required by police when they turned up to training that day - and shorts and T-shirts are what players wear before and after training. Not everyone wears a suit and tie to work. What happened was that the boys turned up for training, the club was then informed that they had to go into the city for interviews immediately and when they arrived they were suddenly confronted by a media throng. Later that night they were shown on every television channel turning up to their interviews wearing the wrong clothing and it looked as though the Bulldogs had absolutely no respect for the situation.
That wasn't the case at all but there was a lot of pressure from outside for the club to be seen to be taking action - and Garry turned out to be the fall-guy despite the fact that what happened wasn't his fault. That certainly got me thinking. It would never have happened under the previous administration because the club was all about the people and had always dealt with things internally.
For Garry to be fired over that really opened my eyes. He was a Bulldogs man through and through. He had played all of his footy there, his family was very, very involved in the club and he had been part of the administration ever since his playing days had come to an end. I had a wonderful relationship with him and if he had still been there I would never have left.
The other big change that contributed to my decision to leave the Bulldogs was the significant shift in culture. By this stage, the younger guys were starting to have a bit of an influence on that by going out and partying whenever they could. I was used to the family-orientated club the Bulldogs had always been and I wasn't really jumping on board with where the club was going and what was being allowed to happen.
For the club to then say, "We can't really afford to pay you that much", when they were paying other players plenty, made me feel as though they considered them to be a more important part of where the club was going than I was.
I realised that it might be best to accept what was happening and go to a club where I could start to make a difference. Maybe everything I had been through over the previous two years had started to wear me down. I was starting to feel a little bit stale that pre-season and I was ready for a new challenge. I wanted to sign a three-year deal but "Folkesy" only wanted to sign me for two. He also wanted me to retire from representative football to focus solely on the Bulldogs.
I don't blame anyone for what happened.I still left the club on good terms and I've got absolutely no regrets. I would have finished at the Bulldogs a very happy person just like I'll finish at the Warriors a very happy person.
I would soon learn that all wasn't quite as it seemed at the Warriors but in July 2004 I was extremely impressed with what the club had to offer.
The irony was that, on the morning I was due to meet with Warriors management at the Novotel in Brighton Le Sands, I hadn't actually had any personal contact with the club at all. I had barely even spoken to them on the phone. George [George Mimis, Price's manager] was the one who had been dealing with them and Jo had been over to New Zealand to meet everyone but I'd really only seen them on TV.
One thing that the Warriors did do was send me a video with four of their players - Stacey Jones, Monty Betham, PJ Marsh and Richard Villasanti - saying how great it would be to have Steven Price come to the Warriors. That was a nice touch and something I hadn't expected. They also had no issue with me playing rep footy and actually encouraged it. To top it off, they were more than willing to offer me a three-year deal.
So I was fairly impressed with the club but I still wanted to speak to Wayne Bennett again. George actually said to me: "Don't talk to Wayne again because you've got to make the decision," but on the Friday morning that I was scheduled to meet with the Warriors for the first time I gave Wayne a call.
I needed his support because he knew my situation and he was external enough not to be affected by emotion.
As far as George was concerned I was meeting with the Warriors to tell them I was staying with the Bulldogs.
In reality I had spoken to Jo and had pretty much decided that if I was able to get some minor details sorted out with my contract then I was going to go to the Warriors.
That's exactly what I told Wayne. His response was: "Mate, I don't think there is any problem with that. I think if anything it's a good decision for you at this stage of your footy career and your family life.
"It will be great for them as an experience and if you can achieve what you're setting out to achieve personally I think that will be a real credit to you as a person."
I told Wayne that I was proud of my career but that if I was able to make a difference at the Warriors and help build a successful culture it would be the icing on the cake.
That had already been done at the Bulldogs, but at that stage of my career I felt the things I had learnt over the years could really help a young club with potential.
He agreed and that was all I needed to hear.
Steve Price - Be Your Best by Ben Blaschke
Published by Hachette Livre NZ Ltd. $39.99
On sale nationwide from tomorrow.
