NRL: Price denies he's unhappy at Warriors

Steve Price says there is no truth to rumours that he is unhappy at the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Former New Zealand Warrior skipper Steve Price today rejected suggestions that he was unhappy at the National Rugby League club.

Price was relieved of the captaincy in the off-season, with second rower Simon Mannering taking over the reins.

He said he had to laugh at some of the rumours he had heard about his reaction to the change and about his relationship with coach Ivan Cleary and with Mannering.

"There's no truth in it," he said.

"It's been quite hilarious actually to have people ringing you and asking you, are you going back to Australia, or you're not happy at the club, or you and Ivan are fighting, or you're not happy with Simon.

"All that sort of stuff is getting drip-fed back to me at stages. I sort of laugh at it quite a bit."

Price, 36, had been skipper of the Warriors in all five of his previous seasons at the club, and also at the Bulldogs before his shift across the Tasman.

The move to replace him was one of a number changes at the Warriors after a disappointing season.

Price believed the rumours might have arisen because he had become less prominent in the media since the announcement of Mannering's appointment last November.

However, one reason for the lower profile was that he had undergone heel surgery and was concentrating on his rehabilitation, which had been hit by unexpected setbacks.

Another was that he was now a player like any other in the squad.

Of his heel problem, which flared up again last weekend, he said frustrating was a kind way of expressing how he felt.

He had missed most of the back end of last season with a rib injury and a detached retina, and had then needed two operations on his heel, the second after it became painful over Christmas and scans showed up bone infection.

His recovery had appeared to be going well and he was back training with the team last week and hopeful of being back to face Brisbane this weekend.

However, when he went for a run on Sunday, the heel stiffened and swelled up.

Tests showed there was no structural damage, but Price said he didn't have a time frame for when he might be available again for selection.

"It's been a battle and I've plenty of support from the doctors and the medical staff and all the players," he said.

"I just want to keep battling away and get over that little hill we've been trying to climb and get on the field again."

The Kangaroo and Queensland representative is one of a number of experienced forwards missing from the Warriors so far this season.

Second-rower/prop Jacob Lillyman and hooker Ian Henderson remain in the casualty ward, while Mannering made his return in the 30-16 win over Cronulla last weekend.

Price was impressed with how the replacements had gone and also had praise for Mannering in his comeback.

"I thought Simon was great in his first game back after having issues with his hamstring," he said.

"I'm sure there was a bit of doubt in his mind about how he would go, but he was a consummate professional through the week and he played very well in the game.

"He will only be better for that run and the Broncos are going to be very determined.

"They talk about the forward packs being a big key to the game and our boys have got to step up again."

- NZPA