“Hard to see how they continue without him” – Will Pryce earns rave reviews on NRL debut

Former Super League talent Will Pryce made his long-awaited NRL debut on Saturday with the Englishman scoring a try in a dramatic 34-26 win for Newcastle Knights and earning rave reviews.

There had been lots of calls for Pryce to debut earlier this year with another fellow ex-Huddersfield man, Jack Cogger, having struggled but head coach Adam O’Brien had been reluctant to do so, even hitting back at media suggestions that Pryce should start.

After Andrew Johns asked why Will Pryce wasn’t starting, O’Brien snapped back: “I don’t know how many games Joey has watched of NSW Cup, but he (Pryce) hasn’t had many back-to-back good ones.”

O’Brien relented though and finally made the change, handing Will Pryce an opportunity and it is one that he seized with both hands as he scored in the first half and went about an impressive and accomplished performance alongside ex-Man of Steel Jackson Hastings in the halves.

Will Pryce capped off his performance with a sweary post-match interview as he explained how much he loves Newcastle and his “f***ing best mate” Bradman Best, and now there have been calls for Pryce to retain the number six shirt for the remainder of the season.

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Will Pryce touted to start the rest of the season as Aussie media raves after debut

Given the attention surrounding Adam O’Brien’s refusal to start Pryce for 17 rounds of the NRL season and his dazzling debut, there has been plenty of media coverage post match and that has seen media outlet Fox Sports made the argument that the 21-year-old must remain in the number six shirt.

Assessing the game, they reported: “It took more than half the season for Adam O’Brien to unleash this 21-year-old English sensation on the NRL, and now it’s hard to see the Knights continue on without him this season.”

Adam O’Brien may well have to start Will Pryce again as he noted that the Englishman was the latest debutant to come in and play well.

“We’ve been lucky all the kids that have debuted this year have all come in and played well. Will was one of them, but to see him great a try on his debut, get the win with his family here, special.” O’Brien told the media, as reported by Fox Sports.

“Sometimes when you’re losing footy games you can get feeling sorry for yourself, then you forget about moments like these that you get to share, it’s awesome.”

It makes for an exciting second half of the season for the Knights who would go on a run of 11 consecutive wins to round off 2023 before losing in the playoffs, a run that saw fellow England international Dom Young top the NRL scoring charts as well.

Young has since moved on is flourishing as a Sydney Rooster with 12 tries this season, third-most in the comp, and the Roosters sitting pretty in fourth after three consecutive wins.