If young gun Will Pryce earns an NRL debut with an opportunity to terrorise his Canberra opponents on Thursday night, perhaps he’ll just be returning the favour to a familiar face.
Raiders captain and fellow Englishman Elliott Whitehead lived with the Newcastle talent’s family in the south of France as he plied his trade for the Catalans Dragons in the early 2010s.
Whitehead joked that a pre-teen Pryce provided the perfect path through language barriers.
“I used to force him to shop with me when I wanted something because I couldn’t speak French,” Whitehead told AAP with a laugh.
“The Pryces had been there for two years before me. Will and his sister spoke fluent French so I’d say, ‘We’re off to the shop, Will’, and I’d be like, ‘I want this’, and he’d have to tell them that.
“He was a good kid back then. Obviously he’s a lot more grown up now but I know he’s been brought up by a good father and mother and I’m sure he’s going to do well down at the Knights.”
Pryce is the son of Super League legend Leon, who in a whopping 492 appearances racked up four premierships and six Challenge Cups.
Leon never ventured to the NRL, but versatile son Will is taking on the challenge, beginning his Australian journey at the Knights after impressing at Super League club Huddersfield.
A fullback or five-eighth, Pryce faces a task to even secure a start in the Newcastle line-up, with star No.1 Kalyn Ponga and genuine halves depth holding him out.
But reports Dane Gagai might shift to a wing and allow him to play centre may present a way in.
Whitehead, who could hardly have shown more respect to the youngster’s legendary father, kept things simple when Will asked for advice on a potential move to Australia last year.
“Just get over here, work hard,” he said.
“It’s a lot quicker game over here than it is in Super League (and) when you do get an opportunity, make sure you take it with both hands – someone always wants to take it back off you.
“Leon’s done everything in the Super League. His side at Bradford won everything, then he went to St Helens and won everything there too.
“He’d definitely be up there with some of the greats over here in Australia, so if Will can do half of what he’s done, I’m sure he’d be proud of his career.”
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
