Maroons legend Steve Price to steer community league in QRL Central region

Seven-time State of Origin series-winning prop Steve Price is excited to be pulling on the Maroon for a new role - guiding community rugby league as QRL Central region manager.

The 50-year-old played 313 NRL matches for the Canterbury Bulldogs and New Zealand Warriors, 28 State of Origin contests and 16 Tests in a glittering on-field career, but in the years since has been busy in the field of business management, including a stint as general manager of football at the Bulldogs.

Dalby-born Price came through the grades at Toowoomba's Newtown Lions - part of the area he will preside over in the role - and felt privileged to be given the opportunity to allow everyone at community clubs to create wonderful memories and lessons that helped him to the top.

"I am really excited about the role and the opportunity to work in the Queensland Rugby League," Price said.

"It's something I'm obviously very passionate about having grown up here and having played for Queensland and all that, and now being able to go into the other part of it, which is helping develop and create and support rugby league in the regions.

"The actual area I grew up in is part of my region, so that's exciting as well knowing how important it was when I was coming through... not only to being a great rugby league player, but also to be a good human in the community.

"I grew up in Toowoomba and played for Newtown Lions from under 9s through to A grade, had some amazing coaches, loved playing every weekend even if it was freezing cold or raining or really hot - it didn't matter.

"It was just about the passion for the game, learning, challenging myself, being respectful - when you win and when you lose - and the camaraderie you gain with your teammates, and I'm still friends with a lot of those kids I grew up with.

"While we didn't all go to the NRL, we've still got that real connection having those same experiences and learnings and good habits we got into to become good citizens, so I've got a lot to thank from my old club Newtown and the Toowoomba Rugby League, the players I played with, the coaches I've had, and it certainly gave me the life I've been able to experience."

Price said he was eager to learn more about the challenges volunteers who sustain community clubs and leagues face across his vast region and work to "reduce any of their headaches and heartaches" so they could focus on fostering the enjoyment the game brings.

"Volunteers are a massive part of sport and particularly regional sport, and the challenge for today is 'time is money'," he said.

"When I was growing up, Monday to Friday was pretty much work and Saturday, Sunday everyone had off. Shops were open until lunchtime and that was about it.

"It's not that it was easier then, but parents could commit to being a coach or mum would be in the canteen or whatever it might have been, but now those challenges are a bit harder with FIFO work, roster work that's not Monday to Friday, kids are playing sport, adults are playing sport and so it is very challenging, so I'm definitely going to be encouraging as many volunteers as possible. 

"You hear the stories of these people and what they give up and what they do, it's  just amazing, it's so great, they're very passionate about their areas and their kids from those areas, and their selflessness is amazing.

"I'm really looking forward to going to so many areas I have been to and so many areas I haven't been to, learning how they're going with rugby league and as much as we can support them that's what we're going to try to do, which will hopefully make it a bit easier and a lot more fun to play our game.

"I love meeting people, I love connecting people, I love inspiring people, so I can't wait to get out and meet as many people as I can, hear their story, understand where they're from and what they've done and how passionate they are about what they do and give the next crop the opportunity we got to realise our dreams or go on to be a good person in the community."

Price joins a community rugby league staff that includes two other former Queensland representative stars in QRL North region manager Renae Kunst and recently appointed Outback league and club coordinator Heather Ballinger.

The QRL Central region spans Toowoomba and the southwest across to the Sunshine Coast, north to Rockhampton, inland to Central Highlands and remote Central West and every community in between.

"I love the game of rugby league, I'm very passionate about Queensland and I'm really excited to have the role of QRL Central region manager," Price said.

"I'm really looking forward to pulling on the Maroon again."