Will Pryce: A Rising Star

Covid chaos, questionable rulings, some of the best comebacks in sporting history, the 2021 Betfred Super League season it’s had it all.

But one player, who has stood out to me during his breakthrough season is rising star, Will Pryce. 

It’s well documented of Pryce’s family links which include Rugby League royalty, but Pryce junior has made a name for himself this season with his performances on the pitch rather than the name on the back of his shirt.

During his early life, Pryce’s life evolved around Rugby League as he followed his dad’s moves, including living in the South of France at the age of eight due to his dad playing for Catalans Dragons. 

Pryce’s pathway into Rugby League is hard to believe when you watch the confidence and potential the youngster shows across an 80-minute period. 

He didn’t get anywhere near as many offers as most young prodigies his age, only receiving an offer from Wakefield. He then participated in a trial for St Helens, but the academy coaches decided after the six-month trial that there wasn’t a suitable pathway for Pryce to progress at the club. 

It was then, whilst Pryce was playing Rugby Union that he received a call from Huddersfield’s head of youth, Andy Kelly, who took a chance on the teenager. Pryce went on to sign a deal at 16 with the Huddersfield Giants academy and looked to finally see a path into the game, to live up to his own desires to create a name for himself. 

After beginning the 2021 season training with the academy, Covid-19 shook the whole of Rugby League and caused mayhem leaving many clubs no other choice than to turn to their academy products to make up the numbers as deflated squads went head to head for the foreseeable. 

For some clubs, Huddersfield included, this was a blessing in disguise. It gave youngsters the chance to impress and show they had the quality to step up to the main stage when it mattered most, and Will Pryce did just that. 

His debut game was at the John Smith’s Stadium as Huddersfield faced league leaders, Catalan Dragons, not the easiest of teams to face on your debut.

Pryce impressed immediately, despite Huddersfield suffering a heavy home defeat, and the fans inside the stadium and journalists inside the press box could sense that something special would come from that man.

He helped set up one of Huddersfield’s two tries that day with quick footwork to avoid the tackle and allow space to open up, as Catalan’s defence was broken on a rare occasion that evening. 

As they say, the rest is history. Pryce has got better and better and people are starting to really get excited about the youngster. With the support of his dad and in particular guidance from the Rugby League legend, it’s clear that Pryce’s head will be grounded and not get too high or low. 

But, it’s clear how he is determined to be his own player, and not be compared to his dad as he feels they have a number of differences within their style of play.

The stand-off got better and better as the season progressed, scoring some impressive tries including a try against Hull FC as he danced through the FC defence, as well as going over at Magic Weekend where he opened the scoring against Wakefield Trinity to have his name spoken about once again. 

After the Super League season concluded, the promising season for Pryce just continued, with him being named in the England Knights squad to face Jamaica. 

The Knights ran riot that evening, winning by 56 points against the Jamaicans, but it was one hell of a night for Will Pryce as he claimed the man of the match award.

Pryce scored a wonderful try in the first-half, brilliantly sidestepping Giants team-mate Ashton Golding before showing fast footwork as he’s becoming renowned for getting himself over the line in the England jersey. 

Pryce also got seven goals to his name on the night whilst adding an assist for Warrington’s Ellis Longstaff to make a complete performance one to remember for the stand-off. 

As we look ahead to the 2022 season, Pryce will be hoping to claim even more plaudits as he comes into the new campaign, one of the competitions most exciting sparks.

With the Giants making some smart signings with an experienced player like Chris Hill who has just ended his time at the Warrington Wolves, as well as adding the likes of Danny Levi from Brisbane Broncos, Nathan Mason from recently relegated Leigh Centurions and Tui Lolohea from Salford Red Devils, Huddersfield will be looking to really push on this season. 

With experienced heads around him, Will Pryce could see even more development than his first season in Super League, and will certainly be a dangerous player that opposing teams prepare themselves for when they travel to the John Smith’s Stadium in 2022. 

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