Mannering to take over from Price as Warriors' skipper

NZPA ©

The New Zealand Warriors will have a change of skipper next year, with second rower Simon Mannering taking over at the National Rugby League (NRL) club.

Mannering, 23, replaces prop Steve Price, who has had the job since he arrived at the Warriors before the 2005 season.

Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said it was important that Mannering had every chance to develop in the role while Price, 35, was still at the club.

Scurrah said Price had done an outstanding job as skipper on and off the field, and the decision to replace him was about the future.

"Simon has the qualities to be a great captain and the time is right for him to take on that role now," he said.

"We realise that when Steve does eventually retire as a player, a leader of his experience going will leave a huge void and, for that reason, we saw the need to appoint Simon while Steve was still playing for the club."

The Warriors, rated as title contenders at the start of the season, finished third from bottom and have already made chances to their coaching and management structure.

Mannering, a World Cup winner at centre with the Kiwis last year, was ruled out of the present Four Nations tournament in England and France because of a knee injury.

Until being sidelined from the tour, he had played 19 consecutive tests since his international debut in 2006.

He made his first NRL appearance in 2005 and reached the 100-game milestone against Melbourne in September in the Warriors' final fixture of the year this year.

The quietly spoken Mannering, who was born in Napier and raised in Nelson, said he was humbled when approached to become skipper.

"It's such a huge honour to be asked to captain the Warriors," he said.

"I'm committed to doing the best I possibly can for the club. I'm very proud to play for the Warriors and to be named to captain the side is an unbelievable privilege."

He intended to learn as much as he could Price, someone he said he had plenty of respect for.

Coach Ivan Cleary was sure Mannering would prove to be a great choice as captain and expected him to have the job for years to come.

"In all areas, his attitude is second to none," he said.

"Simon also has the utmost respect from everyone at the club and has got the personal qualities required to be an excellent NRL captain."

Cleary said the time right for Mannering to step up.

"Steve has done a terrific job for us as captain over the last five seasons but this is the right time for us to make a change while he is still very much a part of the action," he said.

"He can be a real strength for Simon and the team."

Mannering becomes the ninth player to take the captaincy since the Warriors entered the competition in 1995.