Retiring Warriors prop Steve Price. Photo / Brett Phibbs
A frustrated Steve Price has been denied a fairy tale ending to his long and illustrious career in rugby league.
The former Warriors captain, who retires from the game at the end of this season, confirmed today he would need surgery for a third time on a troublesome Achilles' heel
injury.
The operation is scheduled for Friday and faced with a long rehabilitation programme, that meant his hopes of playing out his farewell season had been dashed.
He will not be downing tools immediately however, as he intends to provide a "positive" off-field presence to the Warriors club.
"I won't be playing any part as a player (this season), that's for sure," Price told Radio Sport today.
"It's been more and more frustrating. I've been trying everything to get right but the harder I tried, the worst it has got to be honest.
"The body has been getting worked over for a number of years and it's sick of it, I guess."
The problem is where Price's Achilles joined the heel bone.
He had tried shock treatment, two operations, cortisones and seen spiritual people.
"Whatever has gone wrong, has gone wrong...
"But not going to play doesn't mean I am not going to try and be positive as I can be and help out where ever I can with the club."
He was proud to have played as long as he had. He was just sorry he could not reward the club's fans for their support over the years by getting out to play in his final season. "I really tried," he said.
The popular prop has played a total of 313 National Rugby League matches - 222 for the Canterbury Bulldogs between 1994-2004 and 91 for the Warriors who he joined in 2005.
He also played 16 matches for the Kangaroos and 28 State of Origin matches for Queensland.
He said he was considering options for life after rugby league and it was just a matter of fitting in what he wanted to do with the opportunities that came up.
- NZPA
