The Cumberland Throw

Ray Price Should Be Rugby League‘s 14th Immortal

It’s time for the campaign to start.

For too long, the champion players from the champion Eels teams of the 1980s have been ignored. Their achievements need to be more than just a reference point for highlighting the current length of Parra’s premiership drought.

Nothing emphasises that lack of acknowledgement greater than the list of rugby league Immortals.

Whenever discussion turns to the naming of the next immortal, it seems like recently retired players are the only ones being seriously considered.

Whilst there’s no denying that the likes of Jonathan Thurston or Cameron Smith have their credentials, there are legendary Eels players that have been consistently overlooked.

In winning the premiership over the years 1981-1983, Parramatta is the only club in the last 55 years to win three consecutive titles. Before them, the almighty Dragons side of the 1950s and 1960s won 11 premierships in a row. They rightfully have four representatives in the list of Immortals.

However, the Dragons titles were won under the unlimited tackle rule. The Eels are the only club during the current limited tackle era to have achieved a “three-peat”. Surely, it’s fair to consider that a player from such a team would be a chance of being named as an Immortal.

And it’s not like there’s any shortage of candidates. These blokes aren’t just Parra premiership winners, they are Origin and Australian representatives of the highest order. You could even shorten the list to four – Sterling, Kenny, Cronin and Price – and each player would be unquestionably worthy of consideration.

However, in finding a focus for this campaign, I’ll narrow it down to the man who truly embodied bleeding Blue and Gold – Ray Price.

Raising the trophy – photo credit The Daily Telegraph

From a premiership performance perspective, Ray Price boasts an extraordinary record. During his eleven seasons with the Eels, the club played in ten finals series. The only year that Parra missed the finals was in 1980 when they fell one premiership point short after Price was injured for the last five games. Note – without Pricey the Eels only won one of their last five games in that season.

In those ten finals series, Parra qualified for seven grand finals – winning four.

If there was any doubt about Pricey’s influence on the team, then let this next fact underline what he meant to the Eels. After he retired, it took the club another 11 seasons to qualify for their next finals series. In reality, they didn’t come close.

Of course, all of the Immortals have an extraordinary list of personal achievements on their resume.

Ray Price would be no exception. Here’s his record:

Harry Sunderland Medal 1979

RLW Player of the Year 1979, 1985

Rothmans Medal 1979

Dally M Rep Player of the Year 1981

Dally M Lock of the Year 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

Dally M Player of the Year 1982

Dally M Captain of the Year 1986

With his Eels Origin team mates

Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame 2008

7 NSW caps (Interstate series) 6 tries

8 Origin appearances for NSW

2 Kangaroo Tours – 1978 and 1982

23 tests for Australia – 10 tries

Parramatta 258 games (1976-1986) – 78 tries

Wakefield Trinity 25 games (1989/90) – 6 tries

Outside of rugby league, Price had 8 caps for the Wallabies and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1985. Overall, it’s a list of honours worthy of any Immortal.

Those of us old enough to have watched Ray in action remember why he was so revered. Nicknamed Mr Perpetual Motion, the bloke was always in the thick of the action in both attack and defence. He revolutionised lock forward play.

In action in the big stage

Early on, he was an absolute attacking phenom, scoring 43 tries in his first four seasons. The hit and spin, the swerve and contortion of the body to beat tackles, the leap to catch John Peard’s bombs – he was a constant threat to his opponents.

And his defence – always menacing, from scything low tackles to the ferocious Cumberland Throw – he was someone that even the biggest forwards would avoid.

Then, during the Premiership years, he became the ultimate competitor, a tough as nails workhorse and captain who drove the will-to-win in his team mates that led to titles.

Younger Eels supporters might recognise Ray Price from his statue at Bankwest Stadium. They might know of his outspoken comments on rugby league or at times his own club. I’ve spoken to Ray a couple of times in the last ten years. He’s not short of an opinion and he has never been one to hold back when asked.

But above all else, Ray Price should be acknowledged by everyone, young and old, as a player who played a major role in changing the fortunes of his club and in doing so, he achieved the highest honours that the game can bestow.

One honour is missing.

It’s time for that to change!

Eels forever!

Sixties

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25 thoughts on “Ray Price Should Be Rugby League‘s 14th Immortal

  1. !0 Year Member

    Totally agree. Parramatta royalty.

    Don’t think he scored 278 tries though…. That would be achievement enough to be an immortal

  2. Big Derek

    Visiting Cumberland Oval for home games, what were the kids wearing – basically the 7 jersey for Sterlo or the 8 for Pricey. He was idolised, even a car with a roof rack carrying the Eel of Steel legend wooden banner was seen at every game.

    Pricey was a 100 mph player, and idolised by Parra fans and grudgingly admired by the opposition. Basically he ruled the lock position for 10 years, and his leaning and almost prayer like stance when the opposition was kicking for goal should put him in legend status . Vote 1 Pricey 👍🇦🇺

  3. Prometheus

    The most influential eel of all. Changed our culture from runners up to winners. It’s no coincidence we hit the slide when he retired.

    1. sixties Post author

      He was just so competitive, so focussed. In my opinion we lost that part of our culture when he left.

  4. Longfin Eel

    Pricey was one of the main reasons we won the grand final in 1986. In some ways the wheels were starting to fall off at the club, but Price was determined to bring another Premiership to the club, after failing to make the GF the previous year. He held the team together and demanded 100% effort and execution at all times, as well as leading from the front. He had all the skills, but he also never gave up.

    1. sixties Post author

      As far as I’m concerned that attitude was what really stood him apart from others.

  5. BDon

    Worth the cost of admission alone,led by example, never walked off the field wondering. A true legend of the club and game.

    1. sixties Post author

      So true – and as fans we never had any doubt that he’d given his all in every match.

  6. DDay

    Good stuff Sixties and about time Price’s contributions were recognised. So influential, so consistent over a long period and one of a kind. Every week the opposition plan was to belt Price because they knew he was the key to Parramatta. But each week he defied them – a true warrior. Must be an immortal in waiting.

    1. sixties Post author

      cheers DDay. He shouldn’t have to wait any longer. It’s now 35 years since he held the 86 trophy aloft. Let’s make it happen.

  7. Glenn

    Just winning 4 premierships alone should be a criteria of becoming an immortal let alone his other achievements including the highest honours in Union. You mentioned 3 other Eels players that are truly worthy of selection under any metric for selection also. That any player from the 80s appears to have been invisible to the selection panel is puzzling indeed.

  8. Milo

    Could not agree more. It has been long over due.
    It would be interesting to compare his stats to other Immortals…

  9. John Eel

    One of the other things about Ray that is not mentioned anymore. Ray was probably the first or at least one of the first players to self manage his injuries.

    As soon as he came off the field he began treating his injuries. This helped Ray play as many games as he did. These days the clubs are well resouced with medical staff and this stuff happens anyway.

    1. sixties Post author

      That he was. I remember stories of him setting alarms to ice injuries at regular intervals during the night. Total professional attitude.

  10. ParraFanOnTheHill

    For what Ray’s done for Parra, they should be giving him a monthly pension. Greatest Eel ever.

    1. sixties Post author

      How can the NRL ignore the Champion players from the only three-peat team of the limited tackle era?

  11. Brissyeel

    I’m still amazed that Wally Lewis is an Immortal. ZERO Premierships other than in the local Brisbane comp. Played 5/8 against Kenny in 12 Origins and won 4 of them. How does Kenny not get recognised ahead of him? Hell, Bert even took his spot on 1 or 2 Kangaroo tours!!!

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