A new role is in the works for the Hull FC star – and it could mirror a system used by cross-city rivals Hull KR.
Hull FC maverick Will Pryce could be set for a positional swap next season.
Andy Last has confirmed there have been conversations to move Hull FC maverick Will Pryce from full-back to the half-back position next season. However, the interim coach is backing the player to shine wherever he’s picked.
Pryce is currently battling his way through a ‘tough rehab’ period and is confident of making a full comeback in time for the start of the 2027 Super League season.
That comeback could see the 23-year-old play in the half-back spot, mirroring a method used by Hull KR with a first-receiver half-back and then two ‘full-backs’ playing out the back.
At Rovers, the main half is Tyrone May, with Mikey Lewis and Arthur Mourgue playing the ‘full-back’ roles in attack. At Hull, it could be Jake Arthur in the receiver role and Pryce and new signing Bailey Hodgson, or even Logan Moy, out the back.
It’s something Last has suggested could be seen at Hull next year under new head coach Steve McNamara, with Pryce looking for a big year after suffering a devastating ACL blow back in February.
“There have been some conversations in regard to that (Pryce moving to six),” Last told Hull Live. “Will is capable of playing one very well and he’s capable of playing six very well.
“The makeup of the team next year, if everything goes according to plan, you sit in the coach’s office in pre-season and go, ‘It’s going to be hard to pick a team this year if he’s playing, he’s playing, and he’s playing,’ but it never seems to happen. There aren’t many coaches who have a full bill of health to pick from, so as and when that comes next year, I’m sure Will is capable at six and capable at one.
“It was interesting listening to Willie Peters’ point about Hull KR having a two full-back system, with Tyrone May on the ball, and that’s something that we would be able to facilitate with the likes of Will Pryce and Logan Moy and obviously Jake Arthur, etc., etc., so yeah, there are some exciting things on the horizon and Will is a big part of those plans.”
Pryce has been out since round two, going down in a heavy tackle at Wigan and rupturing his ACL. He’s now over five months into his recovery.
“He’s doing it tough and he’s had a bit of a tough week from a rehab point of view,” Last continued. “There have been some long days, lonely days, lots of hard work, and changes of exercise on his legs, but he cracks on, and he’ll be good for us when he comes back.
“The good thing with Will is if you don’t see him, you certainly hear him. He’s got plenty of energy as well. He still contributes to the group on a daily basis. He’s one of the senior guys in terms of his experiences and the way that he goes about his business.
“He’s very professional as well, and the likes of Harvey (Barron), Lewis (Martin), Davy (Litten) and the Kemp boys (Callum and Lloyd), there’s a little bit of a bromance there, like a little bit of a boy bond at the club. They’re always together, going for coffees; they’re a similar age, and that’s nice to be around.
“There’s that youthful exuberance that they bring and that enthusiasm that they bring, which is infectious to some of the senior boys and certainly infectious to the group.”
On next year, Last is again insistent that the sun will shine again. He added: “It’s the old rollercoaster of a rugby league season. There have been a lot of downs this year, but there have been some ups and there are certainly some exciting things coming in next year; the change of staff and there’ll be some more bodies coming in, and that’ll freshen up the place and freshen up the environment.
“But a big challenge for us is making sure that we hit next year in a positive mindset. We’ve still got several games to go and we want to make sure we perform well between now and the end of the season.”