PETER Mata’utia has hinted this season could be his last as a professional rugby league player.

The centre is in the final year of his contract with Warrington Wolves and turns 33 in November, prompting thoughts that it may be time to hang up the boots.

However, he insists his future is not something he is thinking about currently and that he is focused only on making the most of his time at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Mata’utia has just started his sixth season in the English game having initially joined Leigh in 2018 before moving to Castleford Tigers later that year.

He stayed at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle until following Daryl Powell to Warrington last year.

“I don't even know what I'll do after this year. I trained this pre-season like it was my last one,” said the Samoan international, who played for Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL before moving to England.

“Anything could happen – I could hang it up after the year, I'm not too sure.

“My kids are enjoying watching me play at the moment and being at this club so I'm just trying to make the most of it and see what happens.”

What can be said for certain is that Mata’utia is an immensely popular member of the Wire dressing room.

Indeed, he was voted into the team’s leadership group during pre-season alongside George Williams, Josh McGuire and skipper Stefan Ratchford.

That came after a 2022 season that was difficult both individually and collectively, with the centre often coming in for criticism from the terraces amid a torrid year for the club.

Despite those experiences, he remains relentlessly upbeat about his time in Warrington.

“I'm always positive and I've always wanted to be a player that others want to play with,” he said.

“It’s something I've tried to pride myself on since I was a young kid.

“It didn't go too well last year, but I had a good time and I learned a lot from the club, the players and the community. You’ve got to go through the hard bits to make all the good parts feel really good.”

On being part of the leadership group, he added: “What made a big difference from last year is that the boys got to vote on it.

“Like I said, I just want to be the player that others want to play with.

“There are a few other boys who could be in that leadership group easily and they obviously do their part on the field.”

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