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SYDNEY - Despite being a self-confessed "stresser" New Zealand Warriors' Steve Price says captaincy had improved his game.
A stellar year got even better for Price when he was named National Rugby League (NRL) captain of the year and prop of the year at the Dally M awards here last night.
Price was not at the awards dinner in Sydney last night, having remained in Auckland to prepare for Friday's qualifying final against Parramatta.
"It's a huge honour. There's so many great leaders in our game and to be recognised as the better one this year, I can't believe it," Price said via video link.
"I'm a bit of a stresser (as captain) but I stress mainly about the boys rather than myself which has helped my game tremendously.
"(Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes) picking me as captain a few years ago has changed my career. The extra responsibility has made me play a lot better."
Price was recognised for his best year in 14 seasons in first grade, including three at the Warriors.
Statistics told the story for Price, 33, who was a standout choice for prop of the year.
He gained 4213m in the NRL regular season at an average of 200.6m per game, easily the best numbers in the competition.
He looks certain to break former Sharks forward Jason Stevens' NRL season record of 4380m, set in 2001.
Price's 469 hit-ups put him 59 clear of second-placed Brisbane prop Petero Civoniceva, his Queensland State of Origin front row teammate.
Civoniceva and Kiwis captain Roy Asotasi were among the finalists for prop of the year.
Price's form and durability, as he remained largely injury-free throughout the season which included a bruising Origin series, inspired the Warriors to fourth place and their first playoff appearance since 2003.
For captain of the year, Price headed off Melbourne's Cameron Smith, the Bulldogs' Andrew Ryan and Canberra's Alan Tongue.
The major award, the Dally M medal went to the Cowboys' Johnathan Thurston - his second in three years.
Thurston produced an amazing finish to the NRL regular season, polling 13 votes in the final five rounds to overtake Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah in the last fixture to win the player of the year award.
Queensland players dominated the awards, claiming nine of the 14 prizes on offer, while the Melbourne Storm's collection of four awards was the most by any club.
Melbourne's Craig Bellamy claimed his second successive coach of the year gong as part of the Storm sweep.
The first coach to win the award in consecutive years, Bellamy finished ahead of Manly's Des Hasler, South Sydney's Jason Taylor and Gold Coast's John Cartwright after leading the Storm to back-to-back minor premierships.
Bellamy had ushered 18-year-old outside back Israel Folau into the Storm team this year and got the ultimate acknowledgement for the move when he was named Dally M Rookie of the Year.
Winger/centre Folau set an impressive record for the minor premiers in 2007, scoring a club record 21 tries to finish the season as the NRL's equal leading try-scorer with North Queensland dynamo Matt Bowen.
- NZPA
