NRL 2023: Knights recruits Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce want to make a home in Newcastle

They may have lost Dom Young but the Knights have two new UK stars, with Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce already in love with Newcastle and ready to win over the club’s passionate fans.

Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce are already in love with Newcastle. Now they want to make sure the feeling is reciprocated by winning the affections of their teammates and the Knights’ passionate fan base.

Pearce-Paul and Pryce jetted into Australia on Tuesday, the latest English stars with their sights set on conquering the NRL.

So intent was Pearce-Paul on making an impression, he reluctantly withdrew from the English squad for the Test series against Tonga to ensure his body was in the right condition to begin pre-season with the Knights.

English recruits Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce wearing Newcastle colours for the first time. Credit: Supplied.

“I had a few niggles at the end of the season and they didn’t want them to get any worse,” Pearce-Paul said.

“They pulled me out as a precaution really. I am 100 per cent committed to Newcastle now. I am also 100 per cent committed to my country too but I guess at the time they felt it was the smarter thing to pull me out – they didn’t want to risk anything becoming a long-term injury.

“I got myself straight over to Newcastle to get myself checked. I am all sweet now.”

Pearce-Paul finished his Super League season in the grand final, part of the Wigan side that ended Mitchell Pearce’s career on a sombre note by beating French side Catalans. Among the 22-year-old’s teammates at Wigan was Canberra-bound lock Morgan Smithies.

The towering forward – he stands 1.96 metres – is raw-boned but bursting with potential and he has set himself some lofty goals as he prepares to launch into pre-season with the Knights.

“I guess for me I want to become the best player within this new system – I want to become the strongest and best player I can,” Pearce-Paul said.

Kai Pearce-Paul finished up at Wigan in 2023 after playing in the Super League final win over Catalans. Picture: Getty Images

“An ideal situation for me would be to breaking into the team and be playing good amount of games. My sort of aim – that is how I grade myself on how well I am doing – is if I am playing or not.

“So I would say my aim is by the end of the year to have a good number of games under my belt and be playing well in those as well.

“It is nerve-racking being so far from home. It is nerve wracking knowing I am in the best league in the world for rugby league.

“There is that element of nerves but there is also excitement because I went to get straight in, get involved and be a part of this great team.”

Rugby league is in Will Pryce’s blood, given his father Leon played for England in a tour of Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Pryce feels the same. He is adept at playing almost anywhere in the backline and has regal bloodlines – the 20-year-old’s father Leon played for England, toured Australia and offered him some sage advice before he departed the country.

“He just said to enjoy it,” Pryce said.

“He said to make sure I work hard, keep my head down and stay focused, don’t get lost in the life. It is a really beautiful place but I have come here to do a job and learn.

“Just to improve myself as a person and a player – I think that is the main thing for me. I can’t tell you what the future is. I have to focus on the now.

“At the end of the year I want to make sure I have improved as a person and a player, and matured as an individual.

“Try to be as positive as I can. I have only ever lived at home with my mum and dad. I have moved to the other side of the world. I would be surprised if I don’t get homesick at some point.

“Obviously it makes it a bit better that I am living in a place like Newcastle which is so beautiful I think it is good that I have Kai with me – someone from England who I knew before I got here.”

Originally published as NRL 2023: Knights recruits Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce want to make a home in Newcastle