Knights rookie Will Pryce scored on his NRL debut on Saturday night and the only person in the stadium happier than the five-eighth was his legendary father.
Pryce flew onto an offload from Daniel Saifiti and crashed over next to the posts in the 22nd minute at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The 21-year-old Englishman was swarmed by teammates as his dad Leon wore a smile from ear to ear as he high-fived anyone and everyone.
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“He’s got his moment, Will Pryce scores on his NRL debut, you can hear the screams from Huddersfield to Bradford and indeed here in Newcastle,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.
“What a fantastic moment, Will Pryce, on debut, his NRL debut, scores a fantastic try,” Greg Alexander responded.
“Boy he hit that pass at speed and it carried him into the in-goal, the legs tackle was a good one. As he caught the ball, Dylan Brown hit him but Will Pryce was travelling that quick that the momentum just carried him into the in-goal.
“His dad must be loving watching this up in the stands.”
The Fox League cameras panned to Pryce’s ecstatic family and friends in the crowd with Leon at the centre of the celebrations.
“Good on you, Leon. That’s been worth the trip,” Voss said.
“Leon had a World Club Challenge victory over the Knights in 2002 and he won four Super League titles, it was a glittering career, and now his son is on his own journey.”
Sorry for swearing! Pryce HYPED post win | 00:48
Pryce was interviewed on Fox League after the game and dropped an f-bomb before quickly realising his mistake.
“Honestly, the toughest 80 minutes so far in my career. I love this place, I love this city, this club, my f***ing best mate here (Bradman Best),” Pryce said.
“Oh sorry for swearing, oh my god… the things these boys do for me, the way they’ve just turned out in this game is exceptional.
“This is the pinnacle of rugby league, this is where I belong.”
Leon, played 492 Super League games and represented England and Great Britain on 24 occasions, was asked what it was like watching his son.
“It was horrific, so nerve wracking I didn’t want to watch, I was shaking,” he said.
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“But overall just so proud and happy and so blessed to be here to be at the ground and watch him live.
“I’m so happy for him, he deserved it, everybody worked hard, I’m over the moon for him, the club and his teammates, amazing.”
Fox League sideline reporter Lara Pitt revealed Leon gave an emotional speech at his son’s jersey presentation on Friday.
“Wonderful scenes here in Newcastle. Will Pryce made his move Down Under in November last year, having signed a year ago with the Knights,” Pitt said.
“He spoke about wanting to test himself in the toughest competition in the world and describes his father Leon as his idol. He said it was very hard to move away from his mum and siblings as well.
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