Steve Price says he is steelier and wiser than when he was previously a head coach in the Australian NRL. Upon arrival at Wolves, the 39-year-old, whose term in charge of St George Illawarra Dragons was cut short in 2014 after a poor run of results, provides an insight into his coaching make-up and what he has learned from working in Grand Final-winning camps with Wayne Bennett (Dragons, 2010) and Shane Flanagan (Cronulla Sharks, 2016)

“I’VE always watched Warrington with great interest.

Tony Smith has been a great coach here for a lot of years and I hold him in high regard, with great respect.

I’ve got a fairly good understanding of the English Super League and it’s something I’ve always aspired to be part of.

Having worked in the NRL for over 14 years, it’s important that I stamp my own mark. I’m here now, not in Australia, and I’m really focused on growing this game over here.

I just think there are a few things that the club needs to change and over time people will see that.

It’s going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of discipline.

Going through different experiences in this great game gives you a little bit more steel.

You’re not always perfect, you’re always growing.

I’m older, a lot more mature, I understand the mechanics that go on behind the scenes of a rugby league club a lot better than what I did some years ago.

I was only 34 when being appointed at the Dragons and I definitely felt that I was ready, so that’s no excuse, but I like to think I have a lot more steel now and that I know the intricacies of what happens behind the scenes of a football club and in the management of people. I’d like to think that I’ve improved a hell of a lot in that regard.

I’m definitely passionate about taking bits and pieces from others and putting my own spin on it.

From working with Shane Flanagan at Cronulla, he’s the most resilient person I’ve come across in the game. And what he encountered to be able to stay in the fight and get a premiership at the Sharks was something amazing to be involved with.

Wayne Bennett is a fantastic guy to work with, a great motivator, a great communicator.

And also Nathan Brown (head coach in Price’s early coaching days at the Dragons) is one hell of an analytical coach and understands the intricacies of the game really well and been successful over here at St Helens.

But also I’m my own man and I’m going to be bringing Steve Price’s mantra here to Warrington Wolves.

I like to think I’m highly energetic, I’m passionate about the game, I care about my men, my team, and I like to think that when they cross that white line that they’re going to be a tough and resilient football team and that’s what I’ll be priding myself on as a Warrington Wolves coach.

What has worked over in Australia sometimes might not work here. It’s important I get to know my players deeply and my staff too, and that’s the next phase of my coaching here.

And we have started that. Once we fully understand their strengths and weaknesses then we’ll build in our team structures going forward.

I’ve still got a little bit to understand about the game here. It’s just going to take a little bit of time and it’s a great opportunity now to do that throughout the pre-season.

This is a fantastic club with a great foundation.

It’s got a terrific fanbase which I’m looking forward to helping it grow.

There are fantastic people in the organisation whom I’ve met in only a short amount of time and I’m really looking forward to being a part of this great club.”

Steve Price was talking to Mike Parsons