Priddis thrilled to be back on deck
Major milestone . . . Luke Priddis at Dragons training yesterday ahead of his 300th NRL game.
Photo: Ken Robertson
Dragons hooker Luke Priddis will wear his heart on his sleeve in his 300th career game, but yesterday he revealed it was nearly broken the day Wayne Bennett told him to retire.
Priddis will reach the major milestone when the Dragons clash with the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park on Friday night, with both teams wearing blue armbands to support autism, a condition suffered by his eight-year-old son Cooper.
But joining the 300 club almost never happened after an offseason meeting with Bennett, who advised him to hang up the boots, had left him shattered.
"I'd probably be lying if I said there wasn't," Priddis said when asked if he had bitter feelings about Bennett's call to retire.
"At the end of the day he's the coach and his career is based on making those hard decisions as well.
"Telling me to retire wouldn't have been the first time he's done that, he tapped Wendell (Sailor) on the shoulder as well."
While Sailor called time on his illustrious career, Priddis was eager to make amends this season after languishing with NSW Cup feeder club Shellharbour last year.
His NRL opportunity came earlier than expected, when New Zealand international and Dragons first-choice hooker Nathan Fien was injured in the opening round.
And Priddis has seized the chance, playing the past five games to reach 300, including a starring role in St George Illawarra's triumph over Brisbane at WIN Stadium on Friday.
As he prepares for the battle against the Gold Coast, Priddis admitted he had seriously questioned if his remarkable career revival was possible.
"You do get those doubts in the back of your head," he said.
"When you've got a coach like Wayne telling you he doesn't think that you're up to it, the little man on your shoulder starts thinking about it."
Priddis rates his two premierships as career highlights, winning the first with Bennett at Brisbane in 2000, before he was released by the master coach at the end of the following season.
His second came with Penrith in 2003.
Turning 33 today, Priddis admitted the chance to raise money and awareness for autism made Friday's occasion extra special.
"April is world autism awareness month and it's no secret that (Gold Coast centre) Matty Rogers' young fella has autism, so that fits in as well," he said.
"Other (charitable causes like) breast cancer get a lot of publicity, but autism falls down the bottom a little bit.
"So if this promotion can raise awareness a little bit, not only in NSW and Queensland, but across Australia, then we can hold our heads high."
Priddis is at present holding his high enough that he is determined to keep the No 9 jersey even if Fien returns to full fitness later in the season, as the Dragons pursue their second straight minor premiership.
He even hinted that this year may not be his swansong.
"Whether this is my last year or not I haven't quite decided yet," he said.
"I've got to 300, but I'd like to keep pushing to 320 if I can keep playing well and it would be great to finish off with the fairytale (premiership), but we've got the Gold Coast this week and we'll need to put in a good performance."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...hrilled-to-be-back-on-deck-20100414-sclr.html
