Debutant Will Pryce drops two F-bombs as loose interview wins over NRL

Knights debutant Will Pryce has almost instantly won over NRL fans in a hilarious post-match interview that left him apologising.

Newcastle debutant Will Pryce has capped an emotional debut with a try in front of his father in the Knights’ 34-26 win over the Eels on Saturday night.

The Eels claimed an early 6-0 lead but in the 23rd minute, Pryce followed a Daniel Saifiti charge, with an offload finding the British 21-year-old who charged over for the try.

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It was a scene that would have had Andrew Johns cheering after he got into a stink with Knights coach Adam O’Brien over playing the youngster earlier in the season.

It also had his father going berserk in the stands.

Pryce is the son of Super League legend Leon Pryce, who played 432 matches in the competition to sit comfortably in the top 10 all-time in games played.

He also represented England and Great Britain during his career.

“You can hear the screams from Huddersfield, through Bradford and indeed here in Newcastle,” Andrew Voss said after the try.

Greg Alexander added: “How good.”

Pryce just before he was swamped by his teammates. Photo: Fox Sports

Leon Pryce went nuts in the stands after the try. Photo: Fox Sports

Pryce didn’t stop with a four-pointer though, running 116m for the match, including making two line breaks in a brilliant debut.

Post-match, Knights centre Bradman Best, who had scored two length of the field tries after pouncing on Eels mistakes to shut the door on the match, gushed about the youngster to Fox League’s Lara Pitt.

“Prycey, he killed it,” Best said.

“He deserves to be here, he came all the way from the other side of the world, and he’s like my little brother. I’m just so proud of him.”

After the Knights pair did their handshake, Pitt asked Pryce about his debut.

“Honestly, the toughest 80 minutes I’ve played so far in my career,” Pryce said.

“I love this place, I love this city, this club, I love my f**king best mate here, f**king … oh, sorry for swearing. Oh my god, sorry.

“The things these boys do for me, the way these boys turned out for me, it’s exceptional.”

Pryce paid tribute to Best and his long distance tries, before Pitt told him to go celebrate with his family.

“Sorry for swearing,” he added as he walked away.

But if anything, the double F-bombs endeared him to fans more than anything else.

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie said: “Haha, Will Pryce drops the F-bomb twice in post-match Fox interview. ‘Sorry for swearing’. Good stuff”

ABC’s Matt Bevan commented: “Young English @nrlknights debutant Will Pryce just said “fookin” twice in his first Australian television interview and all I have to say is: welcome to Newcastle mate, you’ll fit right in.”

Will Pryce 😂#NRLKnightsEelspic.twitter.com/1cV9sVCYqe

— Aaron Eugol (@a_eugol) June 29, 2024

In a post-match interview with the entire family, Leon was asked what it was like to watch, saying: “It was horrific. It was so nervewracking, I didn’t want to watch. I was shaking.

“But overall, so proud, so happy, and so blessed to be here, given the chance to come and watch him at the ground.”

Pryce Jr. appeared to be following in his father’s footsteps in the Super League but made the decision to move to the Knights and try his hand at the NRL.

His father, who was on hand to present Will his first jersey, told the youngster’s teammates that he’d taken the bold choice to test himself in the toughest competition in the world.

“It would have been easy enough to stay in England, be comfortable with your family around you, playing a game you’re comfortable with. But you’ve come to the greatest competition in the world, toughest competition in the world, the other side of the world from your family.

“It shows a lot of courage.”

O’Brien said it was a “special” night for Pryce with his family in the crowd.

The win sees the Knights remain on the edge of the top eight in 10th, but it was another tough loss for the Eels, who remain last on the NRL ladder after another crushing loss.

Originally published as Debutant Will Pryce drops two F-bombs as loose interview wins over NRL