Ged Maguire still remembers with fondness the first time he watched Nicky Price play rugby.
It was around nine years ago and Maguire, the then principal of Sunshine Coast Grammar School Primary, had gotten wind of a student who could, well, run like the wind.
Upon Maguire?s request, Price eventually agreed to try the 15-man game.
The rest is history.
The 17-year-old earned selection on the left wing for the Australian Schoolboys side following impressive performances for Queensland in last week?s national championships in Canberra.
Price scored a try in the Maroons? 23-21 victory over NSW in the final on Sunday, giving Queensland its third straight national title.
One person not the least bit surprised to hear of his selection was Maguire.
?Once I found out how fast he was, I asked him if he would consider playing rugby,? Maguire said.
?He eventually said yes, and he was unbelievable.?
Maguire has coached his fair share of rugby talent over the years including former Wallabies John Eales, Dan Herbert, Nick Stiles and Brendan Cannon.
But he clearly has a massive rap for Price.
?Dan Herbert was probably the most talented I?ve seen as a young kid, but at the same age I?d say Nicky Price is better,? he said.
?He has all the skills that Herbert had, only he?s faster.
?I?ve coached a lot of good players and he?s the most outstanding prospect I?ve seen.
?He kicks both feet, he?s an incredible defender and he?s probably the fastest rugby player for his age in Australia.?
The Australian Schoolboys team will play Fiji as a curtain raiser to a Bledisloe Cup match at Suncorp Stadium in September, and will also tour Tonga and New Zealand later in the year.
However, Price is yet to decide whether he will commit himself to rugby.
The talented teenager has also represented Queensland in Aussie rules and cricket, and was the national long jump champion for his age division at one stage.
The only sport he has ruled out for certain is cricket.
?I?ve got to make a decision pretty soon, probably at the end of the year,? Price said.
?It?s still too hard because there?s some awesome pathways for AFL as well with the Gold Coast team coming in.?
Price injured his left knee in the dying minutes of the win over NSW and will have scans to ascertain the extent of the damage today.
?It might be a medial ligament tear, but I?m not too sure yet,? Price said.
Remarkably, Price flew back to Brisbane after Sunday?s game to attend the formal of his current school, St Joseph?s College Nudgee.
?I went straight from the airport to the formal,? Price confirmed.
