NRL club send recruitment chief to watch Will Pryce as interest in Huddersfield star builds

Interest in Will Pryce from the NRL is intensifying after one leading Australian club sent their recruitment manager to watch Huddersfield Giants take on Wigan Warriors on Thursday night with a specific focus on the teenager.

Newcastle Knights head of recruitment Clint Zammit was at the match between the two sides on Thursday, with Pryce's performance of particular interest as speculation continues to grow that he will be heading to Australia before too long.

Rugby League Live understands that the Knights are now the frontrunners to secure Pryce's signature, with reports from Down Under that Canberra are at the front of the queue believed to be wide of the mark. The Raiders have shown an interest, but Newcastle are determined to convince Pryce, who is keen to test himself in Australia, they are the club for him.

Their interest is so serious that Knights and rugby league legend Andrew Johns, now working in a coaching consultancy role at the club where he made his name, is believed to be a personal admirer of Pryce and has instructed the club's recruitment department to do everything they can to make a deal happen.

That has led to Zammit, who is in the UK on a fact-finding mission to scout potential NRL recruits in Super League, being sent to the DW Stadium with the sole focus Pryce's performance for the Giants. The 19-year-old started his first game of the season for Ian Watson's side on Thursday, having missed their opening two games, both of which Huddersfield won.

Pryce is still under contract in 2023, but Rugby League Live understands that the chances of him staying next year are beginning to look increasingly unlikely. Huddersfield would be entitled to a transfer fee should Pryce wish to leave at the end of this