January 30, 2025 • 12 mins
Setting the standards will be crucial for the next Warriors captain, according to a former skipper of the NRL club.
The Warriors are after a new captain following the retirement of Tohu Harris earlier this month.
Steve Price believes James Fisher-Harris will be the new leader due to the respect he commands on and off the field.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dunsey Wildergrave
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be Steve Price for my Warriors skipper evening, Steve
mat how are you. I'm very very well. I don't
have a decision around who I annoint as the captain
for the wars and that's something that's well, it's well
on its way and if anyone knows a bit about
captaining the Warriors, it's you. How many times ninety plus?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, yeah, it's a huge honor mate. Obviously, I really
enjoyed my time at the club and particularly being one
of the leaders. Just because you've got to see beside,
your name doesn't mean you the only one had obviously
Reuben and Stacey and so many other guys in the
team that played a huge role in the leadership of
the group. And that's where the boys are going to
(00:55):
be at currently. You know, like, even though there's going
to be someone with one or two, I'm not sure
what the coach is going to do. But if you
know there's a guy, you pretty much toss the coin
and you speak to the reft three, you know, but
there's so many more players are part of the group
that are going to play well, everyone plays a leadership
role in some way. That's what you want anyway, But
(01:18):
I think probably stand out would be probably James. You know,
obviously the club has brought him for everything that he brings.
I believe that he's doing what he does best and
that's leading with his actions, probably still talking to the boys,
you know, obviously coming to the new club and really
trying to lift those standards and that's what he's been
(01:40):
brought over to the Warriors, and he's the current Kerewy
captain as well, which you know is he's doing such
a great job there. So whether he's the guy with
the CE beside his name, he's still going to do
what he does. Mitch Barnett I thinks, really growing as
a player and his presence on the field, and then
there's so many other guys who could probably put their
(02:02):
hand up as well, you know, even when you start
to consider front railway. So he's not going to be
on the field the whole time, but that's where you
rely on the whole group to play a role and
you really want to encourage every individual to be a
leader in their own way. So I think, yeah, exciting
times for the warriors, And I don't think they've only
(02:25):
got one or two options. I think they've got many options.
They could choose for all different sorts of reasons. But
everyone's still going to do the same thing they're going
to do and play the same role they're going to
play anyway, whether they've got the captain next to their
name or not.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Sit in culture. How important is that in your mind
from a captain? This is not on field culture. This
is what happens in the training pad of the stuff
we don't see. Where does that's it?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I think it's probably the most integral part of success
and consistency. Actually listening to Ivan's book at the moment,
and you know, that's a fair reason why the Panthers
have been in for or one for at the last
five Grand Finals. He's a massive advocate of culture and
(03:14):
connection and that's why guys who leads the Panthers like
Stephen Crichton and you know Andrew Webster as a coach.
I'm sure by James going to the club that's going
to be very very important for him, but also for
Andrew to be embedding that. And I think they've been
(03:34):
doing a fantastic job. And you don't want to be Penis.
You want to be your own identity. And I think
the Warriors are starting to find what that identity is
and I think someone like James coming in is really
going to be able to you know, I suppose spur
that on even more, both on and off.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
The field conduit between the captain and the team. Even
though you say it very much as a group effort,
and we know that that the importance of understanding what
the coach wants to sit down and what he needs.
It's not one way traffic. It's very much a team efort.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah it is, mate, And I think you know, you
don't always have a coach say this is what I want, mate,
because usually the guy that they pick is living and
breathing and doing that. And that's probably why James would
be a great example. Is that you hear and you
see him on the training paddock, and then you hear
and you see him on the footy field as well,
(04:29):
and there's really no difference between either. He's very consistent,
you know what you're going to get every single game.
He doesn't say a lot, but when he does say something,
guys stop and listen. Very similar to Signmon mannering. You know,
he's an action man rather than a wordsman, but if
he does want to say something, he will say it
and everyone listens. So he's very inspiration on how he
(04:54):
goes about his stuff and that's why he's a massive
signing to the club. You know. I just can't think
of any better signing that the Warriors could have had
other than James. And if you gave him that you
actual to, I think it'd be hugely he'd be very
proud and very excited to play that extra responsibility. But
(05:15):
also it wouldn't change him about how he goes about
his stuff because that's what he does, and obviously that's
why he's so valuable.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
You've got to be respected by your teammates. Steve Price
a friend to a degree. But is there a slight
separation between being the captain the man who wears it
all and carries it on his shoulder, which means you
set yourself slightly apart.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
I think that's definitely up to the individual and probably
your group. I probably was a little bit different to
others anyway, And as long as you've been yourself, mate,
I think as soon as you try to be someone
else or act in a different way. People you know,
your players, your teammates, they see through that. So a
(05:59):
lot of those guys would have played with if we're
talking about a James or a Mitch or whoever the
name could be as apt. And they've got responsibilities, they've
got to partake in decision making and all that type
of stuff, and the coach we obviously and trust in that,
and then how they do their things on the field,
and then how they obviously empower others because particularly the Warriors,
(06:22):
it's such a dynamic environment, so not one person is
going to be able to get all the I suppose
attention of the whole group. And like when I was
at the club, we had such a divert group, so
you know, all the different cultures, and we had boys
in our team that were obviously leaders of those guys
(06:44):
in that culture, and that's you know, they would sort
of come to me and say, this is what's going
on with blah blah blah this week. You know, but
he'll be right for the weekend, and so you get
a completely different understanding where you might look at him
at train and go, oh jeez, he's not going too good.
Hopefully he's going to play well. But then when you
get that understanding, you just you lay off in a
(07:06):
bit and you know by the weekend he does come good.
So it's having those sort of trigger points and those
understandings and those connections one person can't always get, you know,
the connection or I suppose of thirty players, So when
you have those other guys within the group, that's where
you get your connection, and that's where you get your
(07:27):
you know, guys get on better with different guys, and
it's just personalities and the way people go. But from
a leadership perspective, whoever they choose, that guy is going
to be able to connect with everyone and then he'll
obviously you lean on others in the group to get that,
you know, probably higher level connection.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
With Mitchell, the positives and the negatives of being an
Australian and dropping into New Zealand and the way they operate.
You have experienced that first time. What worked firsthand? Sorry?
What worked? What didn't?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I think it was definitely understanding your environment and the
boys every you know, when I was captain at the
Bulldog's very different to when I was captain of the Warriors,
and I learned so much at both. But learned very
very different lessons at both So I think Mitch's at
a situation now where he's matured so much since gone
(08:23):
to the Warriors. He's so consistent, obviously gained representation, which
he fully deserved, and I think he's definitely earned that
respect within the team by him just being him. He
wouldn't have to change it or either mate. So whether
he gets a SEV side his name or he doesn't,
Mitch is going to still do what he does and
that's what your coach wants anyway. So yeah, I do
(08:46):
really think it's going to change too much, you know,
depending on who he picks as the captain. I don't
think that guy is going to really be stressed out
or it'll affect his game. Because the two guys were
talking about, I think they're you know, they're in a
situation now where they know what they've got to do
in their preparation. They know what they got to do
when they're on the field for their team, and that's
(09:07):
what inspires their teammates, and that's going to teach those
younger guys who are coming into the group or who
are already at the group to be able to do
the same thing. The more consistent everyone is, the more
consistent the team performances, and the more chance you give
yourself to be you know, able to get the w
at the end of every week.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Anyway, Great Steven, looking back at your career as the
captain of the Worries, anything you would have done better
or changed during your tenure.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Maybe instead of picking tails every time, I might have
went heads a few times because I went the tales
never fails. I see. There's always things, mate, that you
can maybe look back on and do better, you know,
I mean, you look at the sunny Fie. So I
don't know whether we could have done that better or not.
(09:59):
It was traumatic for everybody, whether they are players, whether
our family, sponsors, supporters, or just general public of New
Zealand and Australia everyone, you know, sort of it hit
them very differently. So, yeah, we obviously didn't perform too
(10:19):
well that year. So I sort of looked back on
that as a pretty big disappointment because of how much, Honey,
you meant to me and all the boys and everybody,
and we didn't really perform to what we wanted to for,
you know, paying our respects and really, you know, I
suppose having a real crack for him on the field.
(10:40):
It just didn't work out for us. And you could
go through a hundred times and come up with a
different answer, but that's probably my biggest one, and it's
just because it's more of a thing that yeah, I
don't know what the real answer would have been, but
as a leader, yeah, you try absolute best, but when
you look back on it, you know, we're all really
(11:02):
struggling and I don't know, yeah, what we could have
gone till we've been better, But yeah, it would have
just been really nice if we had had a really
big year that year, particularly after a nine when you
know we were going away from a Grand final and
that type of thing. Oh sorry, whatever we did in nine,
like semi finals, I think we might have got knocked out,
(11:24):
bomb bombing on whatever it was. We're in the finals,
and the year before we were one game, you know,
away from the Grand finals. So a bit disappointing not
making the finals with such a big I suppose year
because of what happened.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
You know, super hard to carry for one man for
an entire team, we get that. And on that note,
Steve will let you get on with your day. Thanks
so much for joining us here on Sports Talk as
always a pleasure has been ours after yourself, Big Feller.
I'm sure we'll catch up again at some stage during
the season.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Up the Wars, yeah, mate, and all the best to
whoever gets namely captain huge honor.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
For more from Sports Talk, listen love Ave to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dunsey Wildergrave
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be Steve Price for my Warriors skipper evening, Steve
mat how are you. I'm very very well. I don't
have a decision around who I annoint as the captain
for the wars and that's something that's well, it's well
on its way and if anyone knows a bit about
captaining the Warriors, it's you. How many times ninety plus?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, yeah, it's a huge honor mate. Obviously, I really
enjoyed my time at the club and particularly being one
of the leaders. Just because you've got to see beside,
your name doesn't mean you the only one had obviously
Reuben and Stacey and so many other guys in the
team that played a huge role in the leadership of
the group. And that's where the boys are going to
(00:55):
be at currently. You know, like, even though there's going
to be someone with one or two, I'm not sure
what the coach is going to do. But if you
know there's a guy, you pretty much toss the coin
and you speak to the reft three, you know, but
there's so many more players are part of the group
that are going to play well, everyone plays a leadership
role in some way. That's what you want anyway, But
(01:18):
I think probably stand out would be probably James. You know,
obviously the club has brought him for everything that he brings.
I believe that he's doing what he does best and
that's leading with his actions, probably still talking to the boys,
you know, obviously coming to the new club and really
trying to lift those standards and that's what he's been
(01:40):
brought over to the Warriors, and he's the current Kerewy
captain as well, which you know is he's doing such
a great job there. So whether he's the guy with
the CE beside his name, he's still going to do
what he does. Mitch Barnett I thinks, really growing as
a player and his presence on the field, and then
there's so many other guys who could probably put their
(02:02):
hand up as well, you know, even when you start
to consider front railway. So he's not going to be
on the field the whole time, but that's where you
rely on the whole group to play a role and
you really want to encourage every individual to be a
leader in their own way. So I think, yeah, exciting
times for the warriors, And I don't think they've only
(02:25):
got one or two options. I think they've got many options.
They could choose for all different sorts of reasons. But
everyone's still going to do the same thing they're going
to do and play the same role they're going to
play anyway, whether they've got the captain next to their
name or not.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Sit in culture. How important is that in your mind
from a captain? This is not on field culture. This
is what happens in the training pad of the stuff
we don't see. Where does that's it?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I think it's probably the most integral part of success
and consistency. Actually listening to Ivan's book at the moment,
and you know, that's a fair reason why the Panthers
have been in for or one for at the last
five Grand Finals. He's a massive advocate of culture and
(03:14):
connection and that's why guys who leads the Panthers like
Stephen Crichton and you know Andrew Webster as a coach.
I'm sure by James going to the club that's going
to be very very important for him, but also for
Andrew to be embedding that. And I think they've been
(03:34):
doing a fantastic job. And you don't want to be Penis.
You want to be your own identity. And I think
the Warriors are starting to find what that identity is
and I think someone like James coming in is really
going to be able to you know, I suppose spur
that on even more, both on and off.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
The field conduit between the captain and the team. Even
though you say it very much as a group effort,
and we know that that the importance of understanding what
the coach wants to sit down and what he needs.
It's not one way traffic. It's very much a team efort.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah it is, mate, And I think you know, you
don't always have a coach say this is what I want, mate,
because usually the guy that they pick is living and
breathing and doing that. And that's probably why James would
be a great example. Is that you hear and you
see him on the training paddock, and then you hear
and you see him on the footy field as well,
(04:29):
and there's really no difference between either. He's very consistent,
you know what you're going to get every single game.
He doesn't say a lot, but when he does say something,
guys stop and listen. Very similar to Signmon mannering. You know,
he's an action man rather than a wordsman, but if
he does want to say something, he will say it
and everyone listens. So he's very inspiration on how he
(04:54):
goes about his stuff and that's why he's a massive
signing to the club. You know. I just can't think
of any better signing that the Warriors could have had
other than James. And if you gave him that you
actual to, I think it'd be hugely he'd be very
proud and very excited to play that extra responsibility. But
(05:15):
also it wouldn't change him about how he goes about
his stuff because that's what he does, and obviously that's
why he's so valuable.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
You've got to be respected by your teammates. Steve Price
a friend to a degree. But is there a slight
separation between being the captain the man who wears it
all and carries it on his shoulder, which means you
set yourself slightly apart.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
I think that's definitely up to the individual and probably
your group. I probably was a little bit different to
others anyway, And as long as you've been yourself, mate,
I think as soon as you try to be someone
else or act in a different way. People you know,
your players, your teammates, they see through that. So a
(05:59):
lot of those guys would have played with if we're
talking about a James or a Mitch or whoever the
name could be as apt. And they've got responsibilities, they've
got to partake in decision making and all that type
of stuff, and the coach we obviously and trust in that,
and then how they do their things on the field,
and then how they obviously empower others because particularly the Warriors,
(06:22):
it's such a dynamic environment, so not one person is
going to be able to get all the I suppose
attention of the whole group. And like when I was
at the club, we had such a divert group, so
you know, all the different cultures, and we had boys
in our team that were obviously leaders of those guys
(06:44):
in that culture, and that's you know, they would sort
of come to me and say, this is what's going
on with blah blah blah this week. You know, but
he'll be right for the weekend, and so you get
a completely different understanding where you might look at him
at train and go, oh jeez, he's not going too good.
Hopefully he's going to play well. But then when you
get that understanding, you just you lay off in a
(07:06):
bit and you know by the weekend he does come good.
So it's having those sort of trigger points and those
understandings and those connections one person can't always get, you know,
the connection or I suppose of thirty players, So when
you have those other guys within the group, that's where
you get your connection, and that's where you get your
(07:27):
you know, guys get on better with different guys, and
it's just personalities and the way people go. But from
a leadership perspective, whoever they choose, that guy is going
to be able to connect with everyone and then he'll
obviously you lean on others in the group to get that,
you know, probably higher level connection.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
With Mitchell, the positives and the negatives of being an
Australian and dropping into New Zealand and the way they operate.
You have experienced that first time. What worked firsthand? Sorry?
What worked? What didn't?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I think it was definitely understanding your environment and the
boys every you know, when I was captain at the
Bulldog's very different to when I was captain of the Warriors,
and I learned so much at both. But learned very
very different lessons at both So I think Mitch's at
a situation now where he's matured so much since gone
(08:23):
to the Warriors. He's so consistent, obviously gained representation, which
he fully deserved, and I think he's definitely earned that
respect within the team by him just being him. He
wouldn't have to change it or either mate. So whether
he gets a SEV side his name or he doesn't,
Mitch is going to still do what he does and
that's what your coach wants anyway. So yeah, I do
(08:46):
really think it's going to change too much, you know,
depending on who he picks as the captain. I don't
think that guy is going to really be stressed out
or it'll affect his game. Because the two guys were
talking about, I think they're you know, they're in a
situation now where they know what they've got to do
in their preparation. They know what they got to do
when they're on the field for their team, and that's
(09:07):
what inspires their teammates, and that's going to teach those
younger guys who are coming into the group or who
are already at the group to be able to do
the same thing. The more consistent everyone is, the more
consistent the team performances, and the more chance you give
yourself to be you know, able to get the w
at the end of every week.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Anyway, Great Steven, looking back at your career as the
captain of the Worries, anything you would have done better
or changed during your tenure.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Maybe instead of picking tails every time, I might have
went heads a few times because I went the tales
never fails. I see. There's always things, mate, that you
can maybe look back on and do better, you know,
I mean, you look at the sunny Fie. So I
don't know whether we could have done that better or not.
(09:59):
It was traumatic for everybody, whether they are players, whether
our family, sponsors, supporters, or just general public of New
Zealand and Australia everyone, you know, sort of it hit
them very differently. So, yeah, we obviously didn't perform too
(10:19):
well that year. So I sort of looked back on
that as a pretty big disappointment because of how much, Honey,
you meant to me and all the boys and everybody,
and we didn't really perform to what we wanted to for,
you know, paying our respects and really, you know, I
suppose having a real crack for him on the field.
(10:40):
It just didn't work out for us. And you could
go through a hundred times and come up with a
different answer, but that's probably my biggest one, and it's
just because it's more of a thing that yeah, I
don't know what the real answer would have been, but
as a leader, yeah, you try absolute best, but when
you look back on it, you know, we're all really
(11:02):
struggling and I don't know, yeah, what we could have
gone till we've been better, But yeah, it would have
just been really nice if we had had a really
big year that year, particularly after a nine when you
know we were going away from a Grand final and
that type of thing. Oh sorry, whatever we did in nine,
like semi finals, I think we might have got knocked out,
(11:24):
bomb bombing on whatever it was. We're in the finals,
and the year before we were one game, you know,
away from the Grand finals. So a bit disappointing not
making the finals with such a big I suppose year
because of what happened.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
You know, super hard to carry for one man for
an entire team, we get that. And on that note,
Steve will let you get on with your day. Thanks
so much for joining us here on Sports Talk as
always a pleasure has been ours after yourself, Big Feller.
I'm sure we'll catch up again at some stage during
the season.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Up the Wars, yeah, mate, and all the best to
whoever gets namely captain huge honor.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
For more from Sports Talk, listen love Ave to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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