Will Pryce’s Hull FC Career: Injury, Recovery, and Playoff Ambitions
Will Pryce, the young Hull FC player, experienced a baptism of fire when he debuted in the Hull derby a mere five days after arriving from Australia. The 22-year-old quickly became a regular fixture in the team, settling into the full-back position and finding his rhythm. However, his progress was abruptly halted when he suffered a hamstring tear in his eighth appearance.
The injury was particularly cruel timing. It occurred in the final moments of a match where Pryce had shone, scoring two impressive tries in Hull’s dominant 34-0 victory against Catalans. The Bradford-born star was understandably devastated.
Now, after a ten-week absence, Pryce has made his return to the Hull FC lineup. He marked his comeback with an impressive five try assists in the game against Salford, demonstrating his determination to make up for lost time.
Reflecting on his return, Pryce expressed his delight at being back on the field. “It was brilliant to be back out there with the fans and to enjoy playing rugby again,” he said. He acknowledged the challenges of being sidelined for ten weeks but praised the support he received from the club. “Everyone at the club made it easier for me to come into training and stay positive. I travelled with the team to every away game, but watching from the sidelines was tough. When we had losses, I felt a bit helpless.”
Pryce admitted that the injury came at a frustrating time. “I was just starting to feel more confident, both in myself and in my game. I felt it was showing in the performances against Leigh and then Catalans. I was starting to build some good connections with John (Asiata), Seze (Aidan Sezer), and the rest of the spine, so the news was devastating.”
Despite initially hoping for a quicker recovery, Pryce appreciated the club’s cautious approach. “I thought I might have been able to get back a bit earlier, but the club, the coaching staff, and the physios were insistent on me taking my time and looking after the injury properly. I was gutted, but the ten weeks are over now, and I’m happy to be back in the team.”
Settling into Hull FC
Since joining Hull from NRL club Newcastle Knights, Pryce has found his feet both on and off the field. His talent is evident on the pitch, and he has settled comfortably into the club environment, a place familiar to him given his father Leon’s playing history.
“This has been the most enjoyable rugby I’ve played in my career so far,” Pryce revealed. “Having the chance to play regularly with my mates, building connections on and off the field – I’ve wanted that regular first-team rugby for a long time, and before my injury, I was starting to achieve that.”
He added, “You can see on all the team’s faces that we’re enjoying getting wins again, and you can see it in the crowd. That’s been the best part. Being injured for so long made me realise how much I enjoy playing and how much I miss it when I’m not. It’s great to be back, and hopefully, we can string together some more wins.”
Playoff Push and Facing Challenges
Looking ahead, Pryce acknowledges the tough run of fixtures facing Hull as they aim to secure a playoff spot. However, he dismisses any excuses. The upcoming games against formidable opponents like St Helens, Leeds, and Hull KR will be a true test of Hull’s credentials as a top-six team.
“It’s the nature of professional sport,” Pryce stated. “We can’t blame our luck if we have the worst draw. We’ve lost games we should have won. We can dwell on it, but it’s out of our control. All we can control is winning these games now. If we’re serious about playing in the finals, we have to play these teams anyway. To win a Grand Final, you have to beat them. That’s our mentality. We need to do the job as best we can, stay positive, and ignore anything going on outside of our camp – just control what we can.”
He emphasised the importance of the upcoming home game against Leigh. “We know how big this game is this week and how important it is to play at home in front of our home crowd. We’re focused, and the attention to detail has been massive.”
Team Spirit and Overcoming Adversity
Regardless of Hull’s final position this season, Pryce believes there has been significant improvement compared to the previous year. He acknowledges the challenges the team has faced due to injuries, preventing them from fielding their strongest side consistently.
“It’s been tough – as a team, we haven’t had every single player fit and available for one game this year,” Pryce explained. “Even in my first game, Jed (Cartwright) wasn’t playing, and then Laney (Jordan Lane) got injured. We’ve just had an unlucky run.”
He continued, “Injuries are unpredictable, but now Knighty (Liam Knight) is out for the rest of the year, which is a big loss. But with everyone back, we’re a dangerous side. We have a next-man-up mentality. We have players ready to step in, and as a squad, we have good depth – we’re working hard at that.”
Recovery and Future Ambitions
To aid his recovery, Pryce even had a recovery chamber installed at his home. When asked if he had sent the invoice to club CEO Richie Myler, Pryce joked, “Maybe after a couple more try assists and some tries – then I might be able to do that. They’ve got to come first.”