I play with a smile on my face but I take it seriously

The centre is back with his hometown club five years after leaving in an ill-fated move to Gloucester RU.

Pryce had shot through the ranks at Odsal and was deemed by many to even have more natural talent than Leon, his elder brother and an outstanding member of the Bulls side that reached five consecutive Grand Finals up to 2005.

However, while his sibling went on to win yet more trophies with St Helens and earn international recognition, Karl’s career stuttered.

His spell in rugby union was plagued by injury as was his first year back in Super League with Wigan while a loan spell at Harlequins last season was particularly demoralising.

But many have questioned whether Pryce – often so languid on the field – has the necessary dedication to fulfil his rich early promise and, now aged 25, time is certainly running out.

After his release by Wigan, Bradford offered him a lifeline with a 12-month deal and, with the Stobart Super League season ready to start again this weekend, he told the Yorkshire Post: “It is a crossroads for me this year.

“I’ve got to that point where I need to be playing week-in, week-out and start playing well again.

“I had a tough time with injuries but that’s a few years ago now. I’ve been injury-free for 18 months, I’m not carrying anything currently so I’ve no excuses.

“I don’t think I’ve played too badly in phases when I was trying to get consistency but I need to get eights and nines out of ten every week rather than a six and then maybe a nine.”

He refutes suggestions that he is lazy and unwilling to make the sacrifices needed to be a top professional.

“People often question my attitude and sometimes the way I’ve come across,” he said.

“It’s something I’ve had to work on throughout my career – body language.

“Sometimes it looks like I’m not that interested but I can tell you now I’m more interested than a lot of people.

“It’s just that I’ve got a laid-back manner. It’s just the way I play and when I play nice and relaxed with a smile on my face that’s when I produce my best rugby.

“I’m not going to change just for the sake of what a few people have to say.

“They can have their own opinion – I think things about certain people – but as long as my coaches and fellow players know I’m there for them that’s all that matters.”

No one can question Pryce’s strike rate. He scored 34 tries in 56 games for Bradford between 2003 and 2006 while, since returning from Gloucester, he has gone on to plunder 24 tries in just 31 appearances for Wigan and ‘Quins.

During Wigan’s Super League winning season of 2010, he scored 12 tries in just eight games but still found himself out of favour.

“I was playing well in that stint and had one off game against Saints and was out,” he recalled.

“With such a strong team I found it hard to get back in and we were playing so much good rugby.

“It was disappointing but the team went on to win the title so you can’t complain.

“I was getting good service, too, the service I was asking for, and hopefully I can get that back with Bradford.

“Last year at Harlequins was so negative sometimes. We got to the point where we were going into a game expecting to lose and it’s hard to play in a team like that so it’s good to be back here now.”

Bradford are, of course, far different to the club he left.

In 2006, in another sign of his footballing skill and versatility, Pryce had effortlessly starred at stand-off as they defeated Wests Tigers to win the World Club Challenge.

But Bradford have not won a trophy since and, inconceivably compared to the era he grew up in, they have failed to even reach the play-offs for the last three seasons.

As they prepare to face Catalan Dragons at Odsal on Sunday, Pryce admits the challenge ahead is for the Bulls to regain that competitive edge.

“That’s the overall aim – to get back to the glory days of the early 2000s,” he said.

“We’ve got some top quality players and it’s just a matter of getting a good consistent run with the team.

“If we can get our strongest team out week-in, week-out, and stay away from injuries, we’ll push up.”

Ironically, if Pryce does earn a chance against Catalan, he will face his elder brother who has made the bold move to Perpignan from Saints this winter,

The former Great Britain international’s medal haul is a constant reminder of what can be achieved but Pryce says: “I don’t look at Leon with any kind of envy.

“Obviously, I want to be striving to win a trophy and I’ve been fortunate to be in a squad that went on to win Grand Finals and lucky enough to play in a World Club Challenge.

“You want to play in Grand Finals and hopefully I’ll get that with Bradford again.

“It’s good to be back and I’ve still got plenty of time, another five or seven years, to do it.”