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Price, Steve |
  Steve PRICE [Player Stats] + Submit additional information or a correction to this player 
McKinnon back as Price and Tuimavave close in on career milestones Tue September 23, 2008 by Retread Source: www.warriors.co.nz Wade McKinnon makes his return from suspension for the Vodafone Warriors' preliminary final against Manly in week three of the NRL play-offs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday. McKinnon (28) was today named in his regular position of fullback for just his fifth appearance of a season disrupted by a long lay-off after major knee surgery and then interrupted by a three-match ban on a contrary conduct charge. Before the suspension, McKinnon had scored three tries in his first four matches back from injury. His return results in Lance Hohaia reverting to the interchange role he filled when McKinnon came back into the side against Brisbane last month. In McKinnon's absence Hohaia has again impressed at fullback. "I can't say enough about the job Lance has done. He's been terrific for us all year in a position he was asked to fill when Wade was sidelined," said Cleary. "It's really tough on Lance but Wade is our first-choice fullback and he showed what a quality player he is in that position the moment he came back from his lay-off." The McKinnon-Hohaia swap is predictably the only change to the starting line-up that won 30-13 last Friday night to eliminate the Sydney Roosters from the finals race. Saturday night's match will be poignant for captain Steve Price and fellow prop Evarn Tuimavave. They'll both move within one match of landmark appearances, Price with his 299th first-grade match since his debut in 1994 and Tuimavave his 99th since his first in 2002. At the same time, Manly's Steve Menzies will play his 348th match, one short of equalling Terry Lamb's all-time competition record of 349. Price is set to become only the 11th player in history to play 300 first-grade games - team-mate Ruben Wiki became the 10th earlier this season - while Tuimavave is poised to join 12 other players who have appeared in 100 first-grade matches for the Vodafone Warriors. In the last month the Vodafone Warriors have won four consecutive sudden-death matches. They beat Penrith (42-20) and Parramatta (28-6) to claim a spot in the top eight before going on to account for Melbourne 18-15 and then the Roosters to move within one win of making the club's second grand final appearance. Having won two matches at home and two away in the last month, the Vodafone Warriors head into the 12th finals match in the club's history with a 15 win-11 loss record so far this season. In finals matches they now have a record of six wins and five losses. In winning 10 of their last 12 matches, the Vodafone Warriors have included successes against Melbourne (twice), Cronulla, Brisbane and the Roosters but they haven't been able to beat Manly in three attempts this year, losing a pre-season trial on the Sunshine Coast, being humiliated 6-52 at Brookvale Oval in March and then dropping their home clash 14-20 in June. "You look at Manly and you just can't find weaknesses," said Cleary. "They've played extremely well this season and we'll need a huge effort in all areas if we're to be in contention against them. We played very well in the second half against the Roosters but we'll need to be at that level from the outset to stay in the game with Manly." The Sea Eagles have had a week off since trouncing St George Illawarra 38-6 in week one of the finals series. Vodafone Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei made it 16 tries in 16 matches this season with his touchdown against the Roosters, giving him 45 in 74 appearances overall (fourth behind Stacey Jones, Francis Meli and Clinton Toopi on the club's all-time list). He is now fourth on the NRL's 2008 try-scoring list with Manly fullback Brett Stewart leading on 20 in 22 games. Vatuvei also lies second on the list for most line breaks with 19, just behind Slater who has 21 but he has played 22 games. With 27 tackles against the Roosters, loose forward Micheal Luck is once again the NRL's leading tackler with 928, well clear of Parramatta's Nathan Hindmarsh (909). Vodafone Warriors V Manly Sea Eagles Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 7.45pm, Saturday, September 27 Vodafone Warriors 1 Wade McKinnon 2 Aidan Kirk 3 Brent Tate 4 Jerome Ropati 5 Manu Vatuvei 6 Michael Witt 7 Nathan Fien 8 Ruben Wiki 9 Ian Henderson 10 Steve Price (C) 11 Simon Mannering 12 Ben Matulino 13 Micheal Luck Interchange (Two To Be Omitted): 14 Lance Hohaia 15 Epalahame Lauaki 16 Sam Rapira 17 Grant Rovelli 18 Logan Swann 19 Evarn Tuimavave Coach: Ivan Cleary Price and McKinnon extend contracts with Warriors Sat May 31, 2008 by Matthew O'Neill Source: www.warriors.co.nz Captain Steve Price and fullback Wade McKinnon have extended their stays with the Vodafone Warriors. Just back from a long lay-off with a hamstring injury, 34-year-old Price will lead the Vodafone Warriors' NRL campaign next year, adding a fifth season to his time at Mount Smart Stadium. And McKinnon (27) has signed a new two-year deal which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2011 season. McKinnon's contract extension comes at a time when he and the club's medical staff are now highly optimistic that he'll be able to return from his season-threatening knee injury before the end of the 2008 campaign. The contract announcements follow confirmation that Brisbane winger-fullback Denan Kemp (21) will join the club on a two-year deal for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He marked his signing by scoring four tries in the Broncos' 30-26 win over Parramatta on Friday night, boosting his tally to nine tries in nine matches so far this year. Price, who made his 285th NRL appearance against Newcastle last night, was thrilled to sign a new deal for a 16th season in the competition. "I'm so pleased to have another year with the Vodafone Warriors," he said. "It was a great move for our family to come to Auckland (in 2005) and I'm excited about being able to add another season onto my time with the club. It's a real boost after coming back from injury last week. "Our medical staff did a brilliant job getting me back on the field and I'm really looking forward to doing all I can to help the team from now on." McKinnon is also set to have five seasons with the Vodafone Warriors after signing his new deal. With Price, he was one of the club's best players in 2007, making a huge impression in his debut year in Auckland. He needed a knee reconstruction after damaging anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee in a trial match against Newcastle in February. It was originally thought he'd be out for the season but Vodafone Warriors team doctor John Mayhew has indicated McKinnon is now in line to return to the field before the end of the season. "Wade has worked really hard and has made much better progress than expected," he said. "While we can't put a date on it, we are now optimistic he'll be back on the field later in the season." For his part, McKinnon has been delighted with his recovery and his long-term future with the club. "The medical team have been doing a fantastic job. I've got a lot to thank them for and, if things keep going the way they are, I'd like to think I'll be ready to play again before this season is over," he said. "It has been really frustrating for me being unable to be out there with the boys but I'm still really enjoying it here and I couldn't be happier knowing I'm now set to stay until the end of the 2011 season." Coach Ivan Cleary welcomed both players being signed on new deals. "Steve has been such an important player for us ever since he arrived at the club and he still has plenty to offer," he said. "Wade showed last year why we were so keen to recruit him. It's disappointing he hasn't been able to play so far this season but hopefully he'll be back before the end of the season." Whenever McKinnon does return, his first match back will be especially poignant. Not only will it mark his comeback from a major operation but it will also be his 100th NRL appearance. Price is also in sight of a milestone, one of the biggest in the game. After last night's outing - his 63rd for the Vodafone Warriors - he needs 15 more to join a list of just nine players who have reached the 300-game barrier in the competition's 100-year history. STEVE PRICE Born: March 12, 1974 Birthplace: Dalby, Queensland Position: Prop Height: 193cm Weight: 107kg Junior Club: Newtown Lions (Toowoomba) NRL Debut: Canterbury v Balmain, Belmore Sports Ground, July 3, 1994 (Round 14) Club Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Manly, Ericsson Stadium, March 13, 2005 (Round 1) Club Number: 121 NRL Career: 285 appearances, 1994-2008: Bulldogs: 222 games, 1994-2004 Vodafone Warriors: 63 games, 2005-2008 NRL Points: 124 (21 tries): Representative: 11 Tests for Kangaroos, 1998-2007 23 Origin matches for Queensland, 1998-2007 All Golds 2007 Educated: Harristown State High School, Toowoomba (Queensland) * NRL appearances includes match v Newcastle, May 31, 2008 WADE McKINNON Born: February 12, 1981 Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales Position: Fullback Height: 183cm Weight: 91kg Junior Club: St Clair (Sydney) NRL Debut: Souths v Roosters, Aussie Stadium, March 15, 2002 (Round 1) Club Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Parramatta, Mt Smart Stadium, March 17, 2007 (Round 1) Club Number: 132 NRL Career: 99 appearances, 2002-2007: South Sydney: 26 games, 2002-2003 Parramatta: 51 games, 2004-2006 Vodafone Warriors: 22 games, 2007 NRL Points: 132 (33 tries) Educated: Terra Sancta College (Sydney); Westfields Sports High School (Sydney) News Source: www.warriors.co.nz
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