Where there's a Will: Pryce turns tough times into triumphant debut

There were times during the year when Will Pryce doubted his decision to quit Super League and back himself to crack the NRL with the Newcastle Knights.

The son of decorated former England and Great Britain star Leon Pryce reflected on those dark days after scoring a try in his NRL debut to help the Knights secure a much-needed 34-26 victory over Parramatta at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday night.

"It's probably one of the best feelings I've ever had in my life," the 21-year-old former Huddersfield Giants utility back told reporters after the game.

"It's a dream come true, and I loved every minute of it."

His parents were among the crowd of 27,424, as was former Manly, NSW and Australian back-rower Steve Menzies, who played alongside Leon at Catalans in the final years of their careers.

Though he loves the company of his Newcastle teammates, Pryce said he had not seen his parents since Christmas "and that's been one of the biggest challenges for me for the past seven months -- not being with them every day".

"There's been some tough phone calls back home when I'm missing them, and getting a bit homesick," he explained.

"But for them to get out here and see the game, and for the boys to put in a performance like that, it's everything I could have wished for.

"Luckily for me, I've got a dad behind me who's played 20 years of top-flight rugby league in England and won everything he possibly could.

"The messages he sends to me, the way we speak, it's a blessing I suppose. Not many players have that, so I've got to take everything he says on board and learn from it."

Starting at five-eighth alongside Jackson Hastings in another new halves pairing for the Knights, Pryce took an off-load from prop Daniel Saifiti to cross for Newcastle's first try in the 24th minute.

"All credit to 'D Saf'. I've told him a million times, thank you so much for it," Pryce said.

"He sprayed me a bit earlier on in the game for not pushing up, and next thing you know, I said I'll be on his shoulder and he managed to get the offload away.

"That feeling in front of the crowd, being with the boys, it's one that I'll cherish forever, definitely."

Pryce almost created another first-night highlight 10 minutes from the end of the see-sawing match when, after recovering his own kick, he passed between his legs for Enari Tuala to dive over in the corner.

However, the try was disallowed after a bunker review.

"I think everyone loves it when you pull off a play like that, but it's just the way the cookie crumbles, I suppose," he said.

"We had a couple of tries disallowed where we were unlucky, and that sort of made the game harder, but that's why it feels so good now, to get a win after a tough game like that."

Some observers, including premiership-winning former Newcastle captain Andrew Johns, had called for Pryce to be given a chance earlier in the season.

The Knights have struggled for consistency as coach Adam O'Brien rotated Hastings, Jack Cogger and Tyson Gamble in the halves, but Pryce was content to wait in the wings and work on his game at training and in NSW Cup.

"I think it's been a mix of emotions," he said.

"Definitely frustrating at the start, but some tough conversations with every coach, some tough games in reserves, trying to back myself and keep improving on myself as a person and a player for the past seven months, that's the only thing I could do.

"The coach always said to me the same message, that I'll earn the jersey. Luckily he's instilled that into me, and I've worked as hard as I can ... to be in this position and I'm loving it.

"My game has completely changed since I was 20 when I first came out.

"I've learned more in that nine months than I could have done in a few years in Super League, I think.

"That's probably the massive difference, the way I've been coached and treated, as a player and a person. They've definitely made me mature."

O'Brien believed Pryce would only get better as he adjusts to the pace and pressure of the NRL.

"We've been lucky in that all the kids we've debuted this year have all come in and played well, and Will was one of them," O'Brien said.

"To see him get a try on debut and get the win, and have his family here, it was special.

"Sometimes when you're losing footy games, and you're feeling sorry for yourself, you forget about moments like these that you get to share.

"I thought the whole framework of how we attacked was quite good, but he certainly suited that as well. I think it was a real good start from Will, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can produce over the coming weeks as well.

"I think he'll build on that game. He looked nervous before the game but he came up with some nice plays."

Knights co-captain Tyson Frizell said he and the senior Newcastle players kept reassuring Pryce to back himself and enjoy the experience in front of their adoring fans.

"We were just telling him you don't have to overplay anything, we're here for you, so just play your style of footy. You don't need to create anything for us, and we'll look after you," Frizell said.

"Usually when new halves come in, they want to be running the ball and throwing the ball around, but defensively I think he was sound, he kicked well, and he'll only get better."

Pryce said his early nerves were out of character but quickly settled after his first few tackles.

"I'm not a very nervous person, I suppose ... but the first couple of tackles, with [Maika] Sivo running at me, I was a bit nervous, but I'm glad I stuck at it," Pryce said.

"The challenges, that tough period where I've thought. 'maybe this isn't for me, maybe I've got to go back home', that's what I've worked for, to get into those situations.

"After the first five or 10 minutes of the game, I was into it and I enjoyed it massively."