NRL: Price's future out of his hands

Playing test and Origin matches is vital to Steve Price. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Warriors' captain Steve Price desperately wants to continue playing representative football but the decision - for the forthcoming Kangaroos campaign at least - may be taken out of his hands.

The 35-year-old's body has taken a battering in recent seasons and he is being troubled by a long-term Achilles injury. The injury is to be assessed by a specialist and a decision then made by the Warriors on whether to release the prop for the Four Nations tour.

But, with the injury having got to the point where Price requires a pain-killing injection just to get on the field, it's hard to see how he will be given the green light to tour.

The treatment involves injecting blood into the damaged area to help stimulate the healing process, followed by extended rest - something his body is telling him he badly needs.

He also requires finger surgery.

"I've got a fair few things wrong with me and if that means that I can't go on the tour and the Australian doctor is happy with that then I won't be going," he said.

Although he has struggled to get on the field for his club recently, playing just five of 11 NRL matches since representing Queensland in Origin I, Price doesn't believe the physical toll has become too great and won't remove himself from representative consideration altogether.

Playing for his country and his state is what lights the fire in the NRL's oldest player. Take that away and he's worried it might die out altogether.

"Sometimes I think that when players retire from rep footy, it means so much to them that they aren't the same player. Like Ruben [Wiki], I don't think he was the same player after he retired from the Kiwis."

Price also believes the Warriors benefit from his desire to continue playing at the highest level.

"There is that little fire inside of you, and you've got to play well for your club to be able to realise those dreams. If I am not playing [good] footy for the Warriors, I am no chance of playing for Queensland and Australia." He also rejects the notion his age should be a factor in his decision.

"Why? Why am I different? What is age? It should go on the individual. There are blokes who retire at 27 [through injury] who never played rep footy.

"What I am trying to say is that everyone is different. I understand exactly what you are saying about getting older and maybe pulling back a bit. I totally understand how hard the competition is, how hard Origin is and how hard the Australian stuff is, but almost every year in the last five years my form has gone up once Origin has started."

Statistics back up that assessment, with Price averaging more metres and more carries per game for his club once Origin begins. But this year's Origin series was particularly brutal, with Price just one of a list of superstars that includes Kurt Gidley, Israel Folau and Petero Civoneceva who has suffered injury woes since.

He stopped short of conceding he had put his state before his club.

"This [the Warriors] are very important to me. This is what I am most passionate about. I am the captain and I do want to win a competition. I didn't come here not wanting to win a comp. I knew that we could and I want to before I finish. And I am not going to jeopardise that. But I don't think that by playing Origin or for Australia I am jeopardising it."

Price's status will be part of an exhaustive end-of-season review. The club had never suggested he stand down from representative duty but coach Ivan Cleary hinted such a move might not be far away.

"The older you get the more susceptible to injury you are, without a doubt," Cleary said.

"But Pricey is a pretty smart guy and our training staff work really hard with him and the older athletes about how to best get them prepared and playing as many games as possible."