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Ray Price (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
Raymond Alan Price OAM
, (born 4 March 1953 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former dual-International (rugby union
and rugby league
) footballer. He was nicknamed 'Mr Perpetual Motion' for his hard, intimidating style of play in league at Loose Forward/Lock. He is a bowel cancer survivor and an ambassador for Brown Ribbon Day.
player Kevin Price, and nephew of Peter Diversi
, Ray Price began his career playing rugby union for Junior Club Dundas Valley
, played senior rugby union for the Parramatta Two Blues
and represented the Wallabies
in 8 tests between 1974 and 1976, scoring 4 tries.
After this, Price moved to play rugby league for the Parramatta Eels
and was an instant sensation with his courage and high workrate. Although Parramatta lost the grand final that year, Price played consistently well throughout, and he only improved in the following three seasons, maintaining his form even in the fiery and successful assault of the St. George pack in the 1977 Grand Final Replay (which Parramatta lost 0–22). Despite being controversially sent off in the 1978 minor semi-final, it was no surprise when Price was chosen to tour with the Kangaroos.
In July of that year his international rugby league début in the 2nd Test against New Zealand in Brisbane
saw him become Australia's 36th dual code rugby international following Geoff Richardson
and preceding Michael O'Connor.
1979 proved to be Price's finest year, for he won the Rothmans Medal
and the Rugby League Week
Player of the Year awards and was established as the premier Loose Forward/Lock in Australia, a place he was to hold until the middle 1980s. Although his form at club level never reached quite the same standard of his first four seasons, his high workrate and chasing of Peter Sterling
's kicks made Price an integral part of Parramatta's hat-trick of premierships in 1981-1982-1983. Though he had been superseded by Wayne Pearce
(who had been moved into the second row in test teams since 1982) as Australia's premier Loose Forward/Lock, Price was still at his best in 1985, winning the Dally M
Lock of the Year for the fourth successive year and the Rugby League Week Player of the Year award for the second time. That same year, Price became the first rugby league player to win the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
1986 was planned to be (and was) his last season with the Eels and he celebrated with an unprecedented fifth straight win of the Dally M Lock of the Year and a premiership win in the grand final.
After moving into the media with 2UE for two years, Price made a comeback at age thirty-six with English club Wakefield Trinity
. He stayed for one season (1989–90) and played 25 games, scoring 6 tries. However, after one season, he sought and obtained election to the Parramatta board, but his comments about the club's decline in the early 1990s were widely criticised and he lost his place in 1994.
Price married into the Kellett family.
Games 258
Points 258 (78 tries – 24 after the value increased from 3 points to 4 in 1983)
Tests 22 (including Kangaroo Tour
s in 1978 and 1982)
Points 31 (10 tries – one after value increased from 3 points to 4)
Games 15 (3 as Captain)
Points 18 (6 tries)
Games 25
Points 24 (6 tries)
Ray Price was Awarded a statue outside Parramatta Stadium in 2009 after CEO of Parramatta Eels Dennis Fitzgerald renamed the Ray Price lounge, the Cumberland Lounge for marketing reasons.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, (born 4 March 1953 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former dual-International (rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
) footballer. He was nicknamed 'Mr Perpetual Motion' for his hard, intimidating style of play in league at Loose Forward/Lock. He is a bowel cancer survivor and an ambassador for Brown Ribbon Day.
Playing career
Son of former North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
player Kevin Price, and nephew of Peter Diversi
Peter Diversi
Peter Diversi was an Australian rugby league player for the North Sydney Bears and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, New South Wales and for the Australian national side....
, Ray Price began his career playing rugby union for Junior Club Dundas Valley
Dundas Valley, New South Wales
Dundas Valley is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dundas Valley is located 21 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta....
, played senior rugby union for the Parramatta Two Blues
Parramatta Two Blues
Parramatta Two Blues Rugby are a rugby union club based in the second CBD of Sydney, Parramatta.-History:The club was originally formed in 1879 as Cumberland but changed their name to Parramatta when the District competition was implemented in 1900....
and represented the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in 8 tests between 1974 and 1976, scoring 4 tries.
After this, Price moved to play rugby league for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and was an instant sensation with his courage and high workrate. Although Parramatta lost the grand final that year, Price played consistently well throughout, and he only improved in the following three seasons, maintaining his form even in the fiery and successful assault of the St. George pack in the 1977 Grand Final Replay (which Parramatta lost 0–22). Despite being controversially sent off in the 1978 minor semi-final, it was no surprise when Price was chosen to tour with the Kangaroos.
In July of that year his international rugby league début in the 2nd Test against New Zealand in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
saw him become Australia's 36th dual code rugby international following Geoff Richardson
Geoff Richardson (rugby)
Geoffrey Colin Richardson is an Australian former national representative rugby league and rugby union player - a dual-code international. He played union at fly-half and league at five-eighth....
and preceding Michael O'Connor.
1979 proved to be Price's finest year, for he won the Rothmans Medal
Rothmans Medal
The Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for that year.The award was...
and the Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week
Rugby League Week is the second highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, behind major competitor Big League...
Player of the Year awards and was established as the premier Loose Forward/Lock in Australia, a place he was to hold until the middle 1980s. Although his form at club level never reached quite the same standard of his first four seasons, his high workrate and chasing of Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
's kicks made Price an integral part of Parramatta's hat-trick of premierships in 1981-1982-1983. Though he had been superseded by Wayne Pearce
Wayne Pearce
Wayne John Pearce OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic Lock Forward for the Balmain Tigers, he was affectionately known as 'Junior'...
(who had been moved into the second row in test teams since 1982) as Australia's premier Loose Forward/Lock, Price was still at his best in 1985, winning the Dally M
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players...
Lock of the Year for the fourth successive year and the Rugby League Week Player of the Year award for the second time. That same year, Price became the first rugby league player to win the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
1986 was planned to be (and was) his last season with the Eels and he celebrated with an unprecedented fifth straight win of the Dally M Lock of the Year and a premiership win in the grand final.
After moving into the media with 2UE for two years, Price made a comeback at age thirty-six with English club Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
. He stayed for one season (1989–90) and played 25 games, scoring 6 tries. However, after one season, he sought and obtained election to the Parramatta board, but his comments about the club's decline in the early 1990s were widely criticised and he lost his place in 1994.
Post football
On 12 December 2006, Price revealed he was suffering from bowel cancer. He appeared on The Footy Show on 16 June 2007 and declared that he had beaten the aforesaid cancer.Price married into the Kellett family.
Rugby League career statistics
- Parramatta (1976–1986)
Games 258
Points 258 (78 tries – 24 after the value increased from 3 points to 4 in 1983)
- Australia (1978–1984)
Tests 22 (including Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
s in 1978 and 1982)
Points 31 (10 tries – one after value increased from 3 points to 4)
- New South Wales (1978–1984)
Games 15 (3 as Captain)
Points 18 (6 tries)
- Wakefield TrinityWakefield Trinity WildcatsWakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
(UK) (1989–90)
Games 25
Points 24 (6 tries)
Awards
- Rothmans MedalRothmans MedalThe Rothmans Medal was the premier individual award in both the New South Wales Rugby League and Brisbane Rugby League competitions, and later in the Australian Rugby League, which was given to the player voted by referees as the best and fairest in those competitions for that year.The award was...
in 1979 - Harry Sunderland Medal in 1979
- Dally M. Medal in 1982
- Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1985 - Inductee, Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1992
- Australian Sports MedalAustralian Sports MedalThe Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
on 24 October 2000 - Named in Parramatta Legends Team (Greatest Lock Forward) in 2002
- Named in Feb 2008 in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) commissioned by the NRLNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARLAustralian Rugby LeagueThe Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Ray Price was Awarded a statue outside Parramatta Stadium in 2009 after CEO of Parramatta Eels Dennis Fitzgerald renamed the Ray Price lounge, the Cumberland Lounge for marketing reasons.
External links
- Raymond Price biography at Sport Australia Hall of Fame
- Ray Price at stateoforigin.com.au
- Ray Price at eraofthebiff.com