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Don't write Warriors off - Price
By GARY BIRKETT - Fairfax Media | Friday, 20 June 2008
Steve Price knows his heroics for Queensland in Origin rugby league need to be transferred to the New Zealand Warriors when they take on the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday in an NRL match that could make or break their season.
The talismanic Warriors skipper has put the heat on his troops this week as the slumping Warriors try to gain redemption at Mount Smart Stadium after being smashed 52-6 away in round three by table-topping Manly.
Price hit back at critics who have written off the 14th-placed Warriors as they have crashed to four losses in their last five games, leaving their top-eight hopes in serious danger with 12 rounds remaining.
"We're not Robinson Crusoe there's plenty of teams that have had it up and down, but we've had it more than others and that's why we are where we are," Price said yesterday.
"But we don't want to lose many more games; the more you lose the more pressure it puts on you.
"Every game's very important, but it would be a great confidence booster to perform very well against a team that's in good form like Manly."
The return of five-eighths Michael Witt and blockbusting winger Manu Vatuvei from injuries could spark the Warriors, who were short of ideas on attack in their tepid 24-8 loss to the Cronulla Sharks last Saturday.
"Hopefully those guys will make a difference and we can get back on track," said Price.
"It won't take too much to turn it around. You only need a win and all of a sudden things look a lot better. "Teams that have won two or three in a row have gone from so-called no-hopers to being right in contention. The comp is still jam-packed."
Price called for patience from the critics.
"I can't stop the critics saying what they're going to say. All we can do is continually try to improve and work really hard. We're staying really positive and getting a few blokes back from injury, which is helping us. We haven't had a great situation with injuries this year, but every team goes through it."
Manly is fresh off the bye and has no injuries, with NSW Origin fullback Brett Stewart returning.
Vatuvei, out since round seven with a fracture in his left leg, has scored seven tries in seven games and is desperate to put one over the Sea Eagles. "They made it tough over there, so we've got to do the same for them over here."
Witt, injured when slipping over and missing a goal kick against the Canberra Raiders on May 4, says he is fully recovered from his hip flexor problem, and came through 80 minutes in reserve grade last weekend without discomfort.
Don't write Warriors off - Price
By GARY BIRKETT - Fairfax Media | Friday, 20 June 2008
Steve Price knows his heroics for Queensland in Origin rugby league need to be transferred to the New Zealand Warriors when they take on the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday in an NRL match that could make or break their season.
The talismanic Warriors skipper has put the heat on his troops this week as the slumping Warriors try to gain redemption at Mount Smart Stadium after being smashed 52-6 away in round three by table-topping Manly.
Price hit back at critics who have written off the 14th-placed Warriors as they have crashed to four losses in their last five games, leaving their top-eight hopes in serious danger with 12 rounds remaining.
"We're not Robinson Crusoe there's plenty of teams that have had it up and down, but we've had it more than others and that's why we are where we are," Price said yesterday.
"But we don't want to lose many more games; the more you lose the more pressure it puts on you.
"Every game's very important, but it would be a great confidence booster to perform very well against a team that's in good form like Manly."
The return of five-eighths Michael Witt and blockbusting winger Manu Vatuvei from injuries could spark the Warriors, who were short of ideas on attack in their tepid 24-8 loss to the Cronulla Sharks last Saturday.
"Hopefully those guys will make a difference and we can get back on track," said Price.
"It won't take too much to turn it around. You only need a win and all of a sudden things look a lot better. "Teams that have won two or three in a row have gone from so-called no-hopers to being right in contention. The comp is still jam-packed."
Price called for patience from the critics.
"I can't stop the critics saying what they're going to say. All we can do is continually try to improve and work really hard. We're staying really positive and getting a few blokes back from injury, which is helping us. We haven't had a great situation with injuries this year, but every team goes through it."
Manly is fresh off the bye and has no injuries, with NSW Origin fullback Brett Stewart returning.
Vatuvei, out since round seven with a fracture in his left leg, has scored seven tries in seven games and is desperate to put one over the Sea Eagles. "They made it tough over there, so we've got to do the same for them over here."
Witt, injured when slipping over and missing a goal kick against the Canberra Raiders on May 4, says he is fully recovered from his hip flexor problem, and came through 80 minutes in reserve grade last weekend without discomfort.