Forward Jack Hughes was named Warrington skipper for the 2021 Super League season having previously served the role jointly with Chris Hill. "It's something I'm really proud of," he said.
Monday 22 March 2021 14:46, UK
Jack Hughes has never had any difficulty expressing his opinions when he needs to.
It is, therefore, a trait which should serve the 29-year-old well now he has been appointed captain of Warrington Wolves for the 2021 Super League season.
After serving in the role jointly with fellow forward Chris Hill last year, Hughes is relishing the prospect of stamping his own mark on the captaincy and making his voice heard in the changing room.
But Hughes knows he cannot do it without the support of his team-mates, and with the likes of Hill and Australian superstar Greg Inglis in the Wolves squad he has plenty of experience to learn from.
"I don't hold back in trying to be honest and saying what I feel is right at the right time," Hughes said. "That's not really something I struggle with.
"It's a role I'm always looking to grow and learn in, and the one thing I have learnt already is you can't do it on your own.
"I've got a couple of rock-solid leadership boys beside me and together we're really looking to grow the leadership in the club as a whole.
It's something I'm really proud of. I understand the responsibility and the weight the role carries.
"It's something I'm really proud of. I understand the responsibility and the weight the role carries, but it's something I'm taking really seriously."
Hill has been a big influence on Hughes ever since he made the switch to Warrington in 2016, with the pair helping the Wire claim Challenge Cup glory in 2019 with victory over St Helens.
It was at old club Wigan where he was given a perfect grounding in the art of captaincy though, playing under the now-retired Sean O'Loughlin since breaking through to the first team in 2011.
Seeing first-hand what made the former England skipper so respected has therefore given Hughes some fantastic insights in how to conduct himself now he has this responsibility.
"I played with Sean O'Loughlin at Wigan and he is the ultimate captain," Hughes said. "On and off the field, he leads purely by example.
"He doesn't speak too much and when he does people listen, and I think as a leader that's one of the most powerful things you can hold - people's eyes and ears - when you speak up.
"With having Chris by my side for the last couple of years, he's a guy I really look up to and really respect and hold in high regard."
Given everything he has learnt from O'Loughlin and Hill, not to mention his own attributes, it should come as no surprise Warrington head coach Steve Price decided to hand Hughes the role for 2021.
Jack has really embraced the captaincy and how he's driven his men throughout pre-season has been A-1.
Even so, the Australian has been impressed with how he has taken to the sole captaincy during pre-season training.
"Jack has really embraced the captaincy and how he's driven his men throughout pre-season has been A-1," Price said.
"He's only going to get better and better throughout the season through the more experience he gets."
Hughes was not involved in Warrington's 34-12 victory over Leigh Centurions in Hill's testimonial match last week but is set to lead the team out for the first time when they kick off the Super League season against Castleford Tigers on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The Wolves will no doubt be determined to put the running joke of it always being their year to bed once and for all by finally getting their hands on the Super League trophy in 2021.
Those dreams were dashed last year by Hull FC in the first round of the play-offs, but Hughes believes some honest conversations among the players during pre-season have given them a good platform to build on heading into the new campaign.
"I feel we're a lot tighter," Hughes said. "One thing we've had in pre-season is we've had some really good, honest discussions.
"We've got some stuff off our chest between us, and I feel that's made for a more open, transparent environment.
"I'm looking forward to going into the season with that in us and just keeping it honest throughout the year. That's something we can really build off and holding each other accountable is something we've improved at."
