John Cartwright expects 18 months in the NRL to have made Will Pryce even better than before after bringing the 22-year-old back to the Betfred Super League at Hull FC.
The son of ex-Hull FC and Great Britain half Leon Pryce, burst onto the scene with Huddersfield Giants in 2021 and earned a move to NRL side Newcastle Knights following the 2023 campaign
But Pryce has now returned to these shores after five first-grade appearances for the Knights, all of which came last year, and Black and Whites head coach Cartwright has high hopes for his latest recruit.
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“The exciting thing is everyone saw his ability when he was here – the Newcastle Knights did and flew him over there to be part of their team,” Cartwright told BBC Radio Humberside.
“He’s had two full pre-seasons over there in the NRL and that’s set him in really good stead for coming back here a better player.
“It’s a really important signing for the club and the future of the club.
“He’s got all of his best years in front of him, he’s had the experience of a little jaunt in the NRL and I’m sure he’s going to come back a better player than when he left.”
Pryce had initially been due to return to Super League with Hull FC following the 2025 season on a three-year contract, but was then granted an early release by Newcastle for what the club described as personal and professional reasons.
The presence of Jack Cogger and Fletcher Sharpe in the halves for the Knights this year, and the signing of Dylan Brown on a A$13million, 10-year contract from the start of 2026 meant Pryce’s playing opportunities there were likely to be limited.
Cartwright was eager to seize the chance to get Pryce through the door as soon as possible too, particularly with Hull FC still having enough room under the salary cap to fit him in for 2025.
Pryce is due to arrive on Wednesday and could even make his bow in Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup quarter-final derby clash with Hull KR due to Cade Cust being ruled out following a failed HIA, although a decision on that will not be made until Friday.
He fills a spot in the squad which the Black and Whites have been looking to plug since Jordan Abdull’s aborted return to the MKM Stadium after suffering a knee injury ahead of this season as well, and Cartwright believes the versatility of Pryce and Cust means they can dovetail nicely.
“It would be lovely to say we’re going to get through the season without any injuries and we’re only going to need 17 all year, but the fact is you’re going to need closer to 30 and to have the calibre of those boys in key positions is huge for us,” Cartwright said.
“While it can be a bit of a headache at times, Will can play at full-back and Cade can play at hooker.
“Things like this happen in rugby league where the opportunity for him to come over was thrown to us, we had room in the cap so it was mad not to.
“It gives us an extra six months to make him part of the team.”
