'Full circle moment' for Price after Warriors debut

They’ve had a mother-son and a father-daughter duo come before them, but history was made once more for the Warriors when Riley Price ran on against the Titans.

The son of former Warriors captain Steve Price, Riley made his unexpected debut for the club in Round 22, coming on in the 68th minute where he made the most of his opportunity after only coming into the squad the night before.

Called in for Demitric Vaimauga who withdrew following captain’s run with a rib injury, it was a mad dash to the airport for Price, who only signed on at the club a month ago.

“I was just sitting on the couch and Webby [coach Andrew Webster] called me and said what was going on and said ‘can you get to the airport in 45 minutes’, so I was like ‘yeah, I can’,” Price told NRL.com.

“And then I packed my bag and was on my way to the airport and got here (to the Gold Coast) at 6.30pm (last night).

“It wasn't guaranteed that I was going to get on the field, but I am just grateful to be here and to be at this club.

"I grew up around the club and I am just over the moon to put the Warriors jersey on and run out there with the boys."

Given the impromptu nature of his call up and the fact he comes from a sporting family, Price was not able to have his parents there to watch as they are currently in Scotland with daughter Jamie-Lee who has been competing at the Commonwealth Games.

“My partner Shani was able to fly over from New Zealand to watch, but my parents … they're all in Scotland watching my sister play netball at the Comm Games (with the Australian Diamonds), so unfortunately they couldn't get here,” Price said.

“But they were over there watching.”

Recent times have been a whirlwind journey for the prop, who only a few weeks ago was playing Queensland Cup just over 100km up the road from Cbus Super Stadium, where he was impressive with Redcliffe before getting an offer with his dad’s old club.

Having overcome undergoing ACL and shoulder reconstructions through his football career, Price headed to the former club of his uncle – and fellow former Warrior – Brent Tate, at the start of the season to find his best form, notching his 50^th Queensland Cup game along the way.

“I can't thank Reddy enough for taking me in to start the year,” Price said.

“They gave me the opportunity to be able to play my best footy and the opportunity came to come over to the Warriors for the rest of this year and the next two years.

“It was certainly a hard decision to make. I loved my time at Redcliffe, but now being out there today, it's a bit of a full circle moment.”

Prior to Saturday’s win, Price had played three NRL games across stints with North Queensland and Penrith. While he may have to wait to add even more to tally, he was keen to keep playing well for the club’s NSW Cup side and staying ready for whenever the next opportunity arose.

“We have values in the team that even if you haven't played NRL, you still have a voice in the squad, so from the bottom to the top, everyone's contributing in their own way,” Price said.

“The culture that we have here and the way the club's brought me in, it's been unbelievable and I've certainly been able to play some really good footy.

“They have given me the opportunity to play (NRL again) and get the call up, so just over the moon.”

This week, the Warriors are at home for the opening week of Indigenous Round, taking on the top-of-the-table Panthers.