Eels give Price his statue

PARRAMATTA great Ray Price owns a million magic moments - and now one of them is set to be immortalised forever.

The Parramatta Stadium Trust yesterday surrendered to people power and amazingly agreed to erect a statue of Price outside his old stomping ground.

The decision, which follows a week-long campaign by The Daily Telegraph, means a bronzed likeness of the 1980s hero will now be unveiled during league's 2008 centenary celebrations.

"This is all such a shock, incredibly humbling," Price said last night from his Budgewoi home.

"And the first thing I want to do is thank all The Daily Telegraph readers, all the Parramatta fans and all the supporters of league generally who have pushed for this. Because without these people, mate, I'm nothing."

The Parramatta Stadium Trust has been taking heavy fire since we exclusively revealed their decision to rename the famous Ray Price Lounge for "business" reasons.

The move had angry sponsors threatening to withdraw cash and fans tearing up their memberships. Fellow great Brett Kenny even insisted the board take back his terrace honour.
And while stadium manager Luke Coleman yesterday confirmed Pricey's bar would still be renamed The Cumberland Lounge, he said it was "obvious" a much higher honour was now appropriate for a hero of four Eels premierships.

"I was just hoping to get my bar back but the response has been incredible," Price continued when asked about joining bronzed greats Wally Lewis and Laurie Daley.

"I mean, Peter Kelly Flooring were going to quit their sponsorship after 30 years. And Brett Kenny, mate, that's one of the greatest honours I've ever received from a teammate."

Parramatta greats, supporters and club officials all welcomed news of the statue yesterday - which will most likely sit just outside the northeastern corner of the stadium.

And leading the charge was 1981 premiership captain Steve Edge, who said the decision would satisfy a number of angry Eels who had contacted him in the past week.

"Guys like Mick Cronin, Peter Wynn, we were all upset by it," Edge said.

"I just don't think the Trust understood what Ray Price means to this club."

Cult supporter Parramatta Jesus, aka John Ryan, was also rapt with the decision - saying the statue would become "like Mecca for all Eels fans".

"When you think about a player bleeding for Parramatta, you think Pricey," Ryan enthused. "I just can't believe you're telling me this . . . it's insane."

But what image does a duel international who played 22 Tests, 15 matches for NSW and 257 games for the Eels hope they use?

"Oh, I'm not sure to be honest," Price laughed.

"I don't really mind what they choose. Although some of my workmates have come up with a couple of suggestions today . . . a few even joked about going with the old praying mantis pose."

Stadium Trust Chairman Craig Gallagher stressed his board "never intended to slight a Parramatta great" and said the new statue would be unveiled "as soon as possible" in 2008.

There will also be a Ray Price Suite in the corporate area of the stadium.