JACK Hughes is the new Warrington Wolves captain – and he is aiming to put his own stamp on the role.

After two years of sharing the role with Chris Hill, the second rower has the job outright for 2021 after the prop decided to step down from his leadership position.

It marks the biggest step in the growth of Hughes' stature at the club he first joined in 2016, for whom he has made 139 appearances since.

Always among the first names on the teamsheet and regularly picked out for praise by his teammates, leadership positions have come thick and fast for the 29-year-old.

First it was the England Knights captaincy – a job he performed with distinction on tour in Papua New Guinea in 2018 – before being appointed as Wire co-captain ahead of the following 2019 season.

By his own admission he has "held back" in the past two years and allowed Hill to take the lead in the main but now, he wants to express himself in the role.

"I don’t think I’ll feel a massive change," the new skipper told the Guardian.

"With the co-captaincy, I did hold back sometimes in voicing myself and getting my view across.

"I suppose now I’ve got it on my own, I can express myself and get my point across to the team in my own way.

"It’s a massive honour and something I’m really proud of.

"Obviously, I understand the weight and responsibility that comes with the role and it's something I’ll take extremely seriously.

"I’ll uphold the highest of standards at all times – any leadership role would require that – but I’m extremely proud."

It marks a move away from official leadership for Hill, who has held a captaincy role of some sort for the past six seasons but has stepped away to focus on his own individual displays.

He was appointed vice-captain to Joel Monaghan for 2015 before moving up to lead the side full-time the following year – a position he has held ever since.

Warrington Guardian:

As co-captains, Chris Hill and Jack Hughes led The Wire to victory in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final. Picture by Mike Boden

Under his on-field guidance, there have certainly been highs and lows, from lifting the 2016 League Leaders' Shield and the 2019 Challenge Cup to losing two Grand Finals, one Challenge Cup Final and finishing in the bottom four in 2017.

However, Hughes says the prop has given him his full support and has praised the way he continues to set an example in training as the team prepares for the 2021 campaign.

"It did come as a bit of a shock at the time," he said.

"Me and Chris have had the co-captaincy for the past couple of years but Steve has decided to change things up this year.

"The leadership group within the club is something that’s really strong and I’m excited to continue being a part in it.

"With the way he’s stepped up in training, you wouldn’t know he’d stepped away from the role.

"He’s still very much leading the way with his actions, doing what he always does up at the front.

"He was really open about it and took it really well. He gave me his best wishes."