Family ties big help in Riley’s recovery
HE is determined to forge his own pathway to the NRL, but Cowboys young gun Riley Price has revealed the advice his famous uncle gave him to overcome his current injury setback.
Fresh off extending his stay in North Queensland until the end of 2023, the 19year-old’s attention now turns to recovery from a broken collarbone – a journey expected to take six weeks after getting surgery last Wednesday.
Price appeared to be finding his feet in senior football for the Townsville Blackhawks prior to sustaining his injury against the Falcons.
Adding to the blow was the fact his family — including his father, Maroons legend Steve Price — made the trip north to see him in action.
However Price said it was his uncle, Brent Tate, whose wisdom became a powerful influence on his mindset ahead of his road back to the field.
Tate fought through a succession of injuries in his NRL career, which included four ACL tears and a career threatening neck injury.
And Price said the advice given to him was more with regards to his psychology than physical comeback.
“He’s obviously had some major injuries through his career; his advice was when an
injury does come it’s not good obviously, your headspace goes a bit down, but once it comes at you go on to your next job,” he said.
“Although injury is bad, he sort of says just focus on getting your injury right and come back as best you can.
“Having people like my uncle and my dad certainly makes it a lot easier. They’ve been there and done some extraordinary things in the game so to have people like that around me is awesome.
“Obviously it was frustrating, injuries always are, but at the end of the day it is what it is. I was starting to feel comfortable playing in the Queensland Cup, but now I just have to worry about this, comeback and try to play the footy I was before.”
Price has been immediately upgraded to the Cowboys development list and in 2023 he will be elevated into the club’s top 30.
While traditionally a middle forward, he thrived in his three appearances in the Intrust Super Cup on the edge, making 60 tackles for just two misses before his injury.
Having grown up as a lock, Price admits the change to the second row has been a learning curve, with the heightened intensity he is now training and playing “a bit of a shock”.
However with his sights set on an NRL debut in Cowboys colours in the next few years, he said wherever North Queensland coach Todd Payten sees him best suited is irrelevant to him. He backs the direction the club is heading in, and wants to be a part of its future in any capacity.
“During the pre-season I hadn’t been training there, but coming into games the opportunity arose for me to start playing second row,’’ Price said.
“Definitely I like playing in the middle, but the second row has been interesting and I’m loving playing there.
“Certainly moving forward whether Toddy sees me in the second row or in the middle it doesn’t bother me – I’ll take the opportunity when it comes.”