Meninga can't forgive Price incident - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Meninga can't forgive Price incident

By Wayne Heming 05/09/2009 12:33:52 PM Comments (0)

History-making Queensland coach Mal Meninga has spoken for the first time about the lasting impact NSW forward Justin Poore's "disrespectful" treatment of an unconscious Steve Price will have on future Maroons sides.

Price had been knock out in a fight with Melbourne Storm prop Matt White when Poore reached down, grabbed him by the jumper, lifted him off the ground and then dropped him as his stunned teammates looked on.

It led to a call, instigated by Maroons centre Justin Hodges, for skipper Darren Lockyer to - as NSW forward Anthony Watmough described it - "put up and up and under for an all in".

Meninga, a proud Queenslander, had not revealed his views on the incident, which triggered a wild finish to the third Origin in Brisbane until now.

But writing in the FOGS (Former Origin Greats) Queenslander magazine, Meninga said he would never "forgive or forget" how Price was manhandled while he was out cold on the ground.

A fuming Hodges described the actions of picking up an unconscious Price as a "dog act" and Meninga believes the incident will live long in the Maroons' memories, particularly when they strive for a fifth straight series win in 2010 which could be the last for Price and prop partner Petero Civoniceva.

"Let me tell you now, I won't forgive or forget some of the things I saw out on the field that night," wrote an emotional Meninga.

"Especially some highly-publicised incidents surrounding one of the true gentlemen of the game, Steve Price.

"People will have made up their own minds about what they saw, but I don't think too many would be arguing it was a good thing.

"Was I upset about it? Yes, I was.

"As an ex-footballer, I thought it was disrespectful. As a friend of Steve Price, I thought it was dangerous and stupid.

"As a Queenslander, I thought we had just seen the start of the next chapter of Origin's history."

Meninga defended his players for "firing up" in the closing minutes of the game as they sought to make their disgust felt by inflicting some pain on Price's behalf.

"That reassured me this group of players was made of the right stuff," said Meninga, who played in 32 Origins.

"When Justin Hodges explained the Queensland players had been riled by the lack of respect shown to one of their 'brothers' by Blues players, I was listening to the words of a true Maroon.

"Like the great teams of the past this squad knows how to win against the odds.

"They know how to dig deep, and be driven by the fear of letting their mates down.

"They know how to tap into the Queensland spirit, and they are protective of it.

"That is why I know the incident with Pricey will not merely be dusted off as 'a part of footy'.

"By disrespecting Pricey, the Blues disrespected the team, the brotherhood.

"And that's why I know these Queensland players will be quietly simmering away for the next 12 months waiting to set the record straight."

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