1 week Ago By [email protected] (Daniel Tomlinson)
John Cartwright has branded new Hull FC recruit Will Pryce a 'class talent' and hasn't ruled out the 22-year-old playing in the full-back position at Warrington Wolves this Saturday evening. Arriving from Australia last Wednesday, Pryce debuted alongside Aidan Sezer in the halves against Hull KR last Saturday, but given injuries and team manoeuvring elsewhere, he could line up at the back when Hull take on the Wire at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. Still to finalise his side on Friday, Cartwright sees Pryce as a six or one, and while there is a desire to get continuity into selections and build combinations, the head coach's final call is set to be based on what is best for the team.
Impressing Cartwright last week, Pryce had just the captain's run under his belt before debuting in front of 20,229 people, but now with a couple of training sessions to go with, the player, signed on a three-and-a-half-year deal, is backed to hit the ground running after giving, in the head coach's view, a positive account in his first Airle Birds appearance. Predicting a bright future, the 'variety' in Pryce's game makes him a bigger asset, and with Cade Cust set to return pending the player passing his head knock protocols, that variety could come to fruition on Saturday. "It's a tough one," Cartwright said in his pre-match press conference when asked about his spine options.
"I’ve been really happy with how Cade has played at six. He’s worked really well with Aidan. "Jordan Rapana can play anywhere in the back line, but I definitely see Will as a six or a one.
It will be what’s best for the team on the day regarding injuries. You also want to give them the best chance to build combinations, so once we settle on one, we'd like to give it time." On Pryce, Cartwright continued: "We're fortunate to be able to add Will to our team.
There's no hiding it – he's a class player. To come out and play on the weekend the way he did, I thought he was really strong, and he added something to our team. "That gives us a variety too in those key areas.
He can play half, he can play six, and he can play full-back. It's a huge addition to our squad at this stage of the year. "He’s more comfortable in his surroundings now.
We've had two full days of training so far, and we've had the review of the game, looking at areas where we can get better. "He’s a very naturally gifted football player with a good football brain. It's not going to take him long to find his place in the side.
I think just the fact that he’s over the jet lag and he’s settled back at home, that’s going to help him enormously as well." Looking to get back to winning ways after their Challenge Cup exit, Hull are targeting a seventh consecutive victory on the road. The side still sit in second position in the Super League table, with a fast and more composed start desired in Cheshire.
"We've got to start better, and we've got to be consistent," Cartwright explained. "I thought we tried to win the game in the first twenty minutes last week. "We didn't build our game; we were a bit haphazard, I suppose.
Our kicking game was off because of where we were landing on play five, and we just didn't build our game. "We got a bit too excited about the whole occasion, so it's back to basics. It's back to when we got together on day one and spoke about the type of team and the type of game we want to play; we want to get back to that and stick with it for the eighty minutes.
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