Steve Price can’t help but regret NRL grand final day 2004, and it will be that way for the former Canterbury captain until the day he dies.
It’s sobering news for current Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis, who is this Sunday facing the similar plight of being ruled out of a premiership decider with injury.
But Price has come to realise that if it wasn’t for the acute disappointment of being scratched from such a big occasion, he wouldn’t have experienced the act of kindness shown to him by young teammate Johnathan Thurston that day, and the lifelong bond that has followed.
In one of the most selfless acts witnessed on a rugby league field, a 21-year-old Thurston, who had come in late as Price’s injury replacement, immediately gave up his premiership ring to his Toowoomba mentor, saying: “You deserve this and not me.”
Price hopes Ennis can find a similar silver lining if he’s forced to watch the Bulldogs tackle South Sydney from the sidelines.
Thurston hasn’t won a title since ’04, but his actions 10 years ago helped Price to overcome a moment of personal devastation.
“I don’t think you can really describe it,” Price told AAP at a grand final lunch celebrating the ’04 team on Friday.
“He had no idea whether he was going to get one.
“It just shows what sort of man he is.
“He hasn’t had that chance again and when you’re looking at this opportunity the guy who takes Michael’s position – he deserves it just as much as anyone as well. As did Johnathan.
“He wouldn’t have been there if he didn’t.
“The thing that most gratified me is how important it was to him.”
Price recalls how the players were given random rings on the victory dais and were forced to swap with teammates to get the right playing number, which was printed on the side of the box.
By fate, Thurston was given No.10, Price’s number, and knew exactly what he needed to do with it.
“We’ve been best mates ever since,” said Price.
Like Ennis, Price says he was consumed all week leading into the grand final by media hype and preparations, that he didn’t let himself dwell on the disappointment until a later date.
He said if Canterbury beat Souths on Sunday, nothing will cure Ennis of the frustration he’ll feel, but he encouraged the feisty hooker to soak up the celebrations.
“I regard it as one of the biggest regrets of my career. It was something I couldn’t control but it’s something I would have loved to have done. I always wanted to be a premiership-winning captain,” said Price.
“It’ll stay with me until I get buried.
“But when you look at it, you think what a fantastic opportunity it’s to even get that chance. There’s not a lot of players who get those opportunities. I got those opportunities so I’m blessed.”
Price was part of the last team to win a grand final from outside the four – the 1995 Bulldogs.
He’s tipping Canterbury’s grand final experience and Des Hasler’s coaching can deliver them a historic premiership from seventh place on Sunday.
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