League: Mannering to lead Warriors from the front

Outgoing captain Steve Price has already given Simon Mannering his full support. Photo / Getty Images

Expect new Warriors captain Simon Mannering to be more Ruben Wiki than Steve Price in his leadership style.

A surprise choice to replace Price, the 23-year-old is definitely cut from the lead-by-example mould. There won't be much exhorting from the sidelines. He'll be found down in the trenches, getting dirty with the boys.

As far as laid-back customers go, Mannering is damn near horizontal. At a hastily-arranged press call on Wednesday afternoon he rocked up in a club polo shirt with a pair of shorts over the top of some compression tights, his beard making him look like a DOC possum trapper who had somehow got lost in Penrose.

The look that might not have screamed club figurehead, but it did invoke memories of Wiki, the former Kiwis colossus who was always at his most comfortable in his training kit.

Having never captained a side before, Mannering admits his leadership style will be a work in progress. But he does see more parallels with Wiki's strong, silent approach than Price's cultivated but heavily exposed media profile.

"[Wiki] was a pretty laid-back guy who didn't say a lot and I'm sort of along the same lines as that," Mannering said.

"I've spoken to [coach Ivan Cleary] about just being myself. He said he had put me this position because of what I had been doing so just stick along those lines. Obviously I'm not the biggest talker but there are guys in the team who will say something if it needs to be said, and so will I."

As a rookie captain Mannering will have an extensive support team around him. Somewhat ironically, it will almost certainly be led by Price.

Being made captain of a team that still contained a leader of Price's calibre was a "weird" feeling, but Mannering was confident he had the full backing of his predecessor.

"It's hard to follow Steve but I guess I'll come round," Mannering said.

"He just said 'mate I'm fully behind you'. Obviously he'll be a little bit disappointed not to have the job again but he said 'I am behind you 100 per cent and if you need anything just come and ask'."

Price has largely kept his own counsel but he did tell an Australian tabloid he had been shocked by his removal and hadn't seen it coming.

He probably should have. A string of injuries and State of Origin commitments meant Price, who turns 35 in March next year, played just 14 games this season.

Cleary rejected the notion that Price's frequent unavailability was a factor in his removal but there is no doubt that in Mannering, a player known for his durability, he has plumped for a replacement who is unlikely to be affected by the same issues.

"That is probably a bonus but it wasn't a huge factor," Cleary said.

"Apart from this year Steve has played a hell of a lot of football for us and when he is at peak fitness he plays big minutes. That has always been a real strength of his and I know he is determined to get back to that this year.

"Having said that, it is definitely an advantage for a captain to be able to play big minutes and Simon plays 80 minutes every week and hardly misses a game. That certainly helps."

Napier-born, Nelson-raised Mannering was a latecomer to league, only switching to the sport as a teenager when spotted playing for the Nelson College First XV by Wellington coach Paul Bergman.

But he was a quick developer, making his first-grade debut against Brisbane in 2005 while just 19.

He made his Kiwis debut the following year and forged a reputation as a solid, dependable player, racking up 92 consecutive NRL games and 19 straight tests for the Kiwis.

He becomes the ninth Warriors captain, following Dean Bell (1995), Greg Alexander (1996), Matthew Ridge (1997-1999), John Simon (2000), co-captains Kevin Campion and Stacey Jones (2001), Monty Betham (2002-2004) and Price (2005-2009).

Regular stand-in Micheal Luck would have been widely expected to succeed Price but Cleary said he had watched Mannering's leadership potential develop over several seasons and he was the obvious choice.

"He is the best man for the job," Cleary said. "We've got a great bunch of younger guys who we think have a lot of leadership potential but Simon was the clear standout.

"He is hugely popular and very well respected. Everyone is really excited about working with him and seeing where we go into the future.

"In terms of years he is pretty young but he has packed a bit into the last five years. He has near 20 tests already and played 100 [NRL] games. For a young guy he is very mature and in terms of football experience he has already got plenty of it. [His age] is actually a bonus in terms of longevity.

"He will forge his own style and I guess it will be moulded by his personality - and that won't change too much. When he speaks people listen but he is not a huge talker at this stage, so he will probably be more around the 'follow me' type style.

"But I think in a few years you'll see a pretty exciting leadership package."

Mannering isn't under any illusions about the challenges he'll face as the Warriors look to bounce back from one of their most disappointing seasons.

"I'm just happy to have the opportunity. I'll definitely learn some things along the way and hopefully we have a better season.

"I guess the only way is up for us."

SIMON MANNERING

Born: August 28, 1986

Birthplace: Napier

Position: Second row

Height: 1.90m

Weight: 101kg

Junior Club: Wellington Orcas

NRL Debut: Warriors v Brisbane, Ericsson Stadium, June 26, 2005

(Round 16)

NRL Career: Warriors: 100 games, 2005-2009

NRL Points: 100 (25 tries)

Test Career: 19 tests, 2006-2009; 2008 World Cup winner

Test Points: 8 (2 tries)

Kiwi Number: 731

Educated: Nelson College