Australian rugby league great Bob Lindner gave Steve Price a huge surprise when he turned up as a special guest to present the Vodafone Warriors’ captain with his specially-embroidered jersey for his 300th first-grade appearance in tonight’s NRL season opener against Parramatta at Mount Smart Stadium.
Lindner, Price’s boyhood idol who played 24 tests for the Kangaroos from 1986-93, was spirited into the club yesterday while Price and his team-mates were having their final run before their round one match.
After being concealed for the best part of an hour, Lindner shocked Price when he was brought into a team function for the presentation of jerseys to Price, first-time Vodafone Warriors Denan Kemp, Joel Moon and Jacob Lillyman plus NRL debutant Leeson Ah Mau.
A specially-commissioned DVD was played featuring messages from numerous former and current players as well as memorable moments from Price’s career. Among those paying tribute was another of Price’s heroes Terry Lamb along with Gorden Tallis, Brad Fittler, Hazem El Masri, Braith Anasta, Willie Mason, Roy Asotasi, Mark O’Meley, Daryl Halligan and David Peachey.
In his autobiography ‘Be Your Best’, published last year, Price told of how Lindner became his idol. He was playing for Newtown in Toowoomba at the time, coached by Gary Czislowski:
“Gary said to us that year: ‘Boys, I want you to go home and watch State of Origin tonight and whatever number you wear, find the player who wears the same number and do the same as him’.
“I used to wear number eight for Newton, which was lock at that time, and the player I watched represent Queensland that night was Bob Lindner. I watched everything he did and I liked how he played. He wasn’t a dirty player, he wasn’t a player who got the big wraps or the one who won games for his team but he always gave everything he had – particularly in Origin. I idolised him.”
And yesterday that idol was able to give Price the jersey he’ll wear against Parramatta – which happened to be Linder’s first club in Sydney – tonight. Lindner, who also played for Gold Coast, Western Suburbs and Illawarra, played 25 Origin matches for Queensland. It was his record outright for the most Origin matches by a forward for the Maroons – until Price equalled it last year. Yesterday the just-turned 35-year-old Vodafone Warriors captain spoke of his desire to extend his Origin career this year and move ahead of Lindner.
After receiving his jersey, Price presented fellow prop Ah Mau (19) with his commemorative jersey as Vodafone Warrior No 147. New Vodafone Warriors Moon (No 145), Lillyman (no 146) and Kemp (No 144) were presented with their jerseys by Stacey Jones, Logan Swann and Brent Tate respectively.
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