Will Pryce has no ‘preference’ whether he plays half-back or full-back for Hull FC. In fact, his only worry is what is best for the team.
Pryce made his Hull FC debut in the halves during the Challenge Cup defeat to Hull KR back in April. However, he has played the last seven games at full-back, allowing Aidan Sezer and Cade Cust to take the reins in the halves.
It was a move that showed promise in victory at Warrington in his second game, and he hasn’t looked back, scoring his first try for the club at Wigan and adding two more against Catalans over the weekend.
But for the talented 22-year-old, who is finding his feet after a tough run of fixtures to start life at his new club, he’s happy to play either role in the future – dependent on what fits John Cartwright’s side best.
“I’ve got no preference,” Pryce said. “I’ve played both positions, so it’s wherever John wants me. For us, it’s about having our best starting 13 on the field each week, so it’s where the team needs me, whether that’s at half-back or at full-back.
“But I’m really enjoying playing full-back at the moment, getting my hands on the ball a bit more, and having different running opportunities, which suits me and my game more.”
It was two kick returns that saw Pryce really show his running talents in Perpignan. Returning the ball, he crabbed across the line before finding a gap, speeding up, and stepping his way through the line to score a superb try. His second was more of the same, with a step and burst of pace leaving the Catalans defence for good.
Shining in the full-back role, Pryce, who received criticism after the Magic Weekend loss to Huddersfield, also stepped up defensively at Catalans, making a try-saving tackle on his own line as Catalans looked to hit back.
He did all that with Dad Leon Pryce in the crowd, with the player now at home at the club he grew up at while his father adorned the black and white – one he’s keen to help make sure reaches the upper echelons of rugby league again.
Asked why Hull was a good fit, Pryce continued: “It’s John’s visions and the boys and what they’ve got here. I’ve played with Aidan Sezer before at Huddersfield – he’s a massive character amongst the group.
“He leads our team around the field. He’s our skipper, and he’s our general number one. He knows how I play and they’ve both worked hard on bringing the best out of me
“We’ve got a good mix of young lads and old lads, and we all mix really well. It’s building, and it’s striving for the success it’s had in the past.
“I think Hull is overlooked in terms of rugby league. On the other side of the Pennines, you’ve got the Lancashire-based teams who have dominated the last ten years, but we want to be mainstream in this league, and we’re proving we can win games now, but it’s about doing that constantly throughout the rest of the year. That’s our challenge.”