Former St George Illawarra coach Steve Price believes he is now better suited to being a head coach than when he was installed in the Dragons hot seat in 2011.
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Price, who kicks off his Super League coaching career on February 1 when his Warrington side host reigning premiers Leeds Rhinos, was just 34 when he replaced Wayne Bennett at the joint-venture.
However, his 14-year association with the club ended bitterly when he was axed midway through the 2014 campaign following a 36-0 thumping by Parramatta after overseeing the club's worst ever season 12 months earlier.
Never really comfortable being in the spotlight, Price went back to what he does best on the training paddock when Cronulla boss Shane Flanagan appointed him as his assistant.
Two years later the pair masterminded the Sharks to their long-awaited maiden premiership and Price's second having been integral in the Dragons' success under Bennett in 2010.
Price was named Warrington coach last November and had to plan for the new season without his young family, who will join him in the next month.
Despite being so far away from home and without his loved ones close by, Price is relishing being the main man again at one of Super League's strongest clubs.
"I am definitely a better coach now," Price told AAP.
"I am lot more mature, past experiences mean I am a lot more steeled and really enjoying being back in the head coaching seat.
"It's a fantastic club with a lot of good people and I am loving it.
"You always aspire to be back in the hot seat, I had 14 fantastic years at the Dragons, it is a great football club.
"I was very fortunate to spend three great seasons at Cronulla working under Shane, who is a fantastic man to work for.
"I like to think over those three years that I have grown as a person and as a coach and those experiences have put me in good stead to carry it over to the Warrington Wolves."
Price sounded out former Dragons coach Nathan Brown and ex-South Sydney boss Michael Maguire before taking the job and wants to emulate the success both men had in the Super League.
Maguire won the grand final with Wigan in 2010 and Brown guided St Helens to the 2014 title before taking the Newcastle job.
"Flanno was my first port of call and he was very supportive of it,"" Price said.
"He had the opportunity to coach Castleford a few years back and loved the experience.
"I spent a couple of weeks here in 2014 with Nathan when St Helens won the comp and had a small taste of it.
"Browny was very supportive of the Super League as was Madge (Maguire) and where I was in my career the time was right to make the move."
AAP
