WOLVES skipper Chris Hill believes the club’s younger crop of players will learn and grow stronger from the agony experienced in the Super League Grand Final.

The 28-year-old is confident Tony Smith’s men will be able to battle past the pain and return even better next year.

But he admits not getting the chance to win the top honour with the current batch of players has hurt that bit more.

He said: “It was a re-run of the Challenge Cup – it is very disappointing but we have got to pick ourselves up again and not make losing a thing.

“Brushing it under the carpet will be hard – the lads will reflect in the next couple of days.

“There is no next week, which is disappointing.

“Wigan were very good again and we knew that, they can dig in.

“This will take a good week to get over. With these boys it is disappointing – we are never going to be the same pack again.

“I thought we had something special this year and were close in two finals.

“I’ve said let’s stick together and enjoy each other’s company for the last few days because we are never going to be the same pack again.

“And we will all stick together over the next few days as we have all year, hence we made two finals and won the League Leaders’ Shield.

“We have come up short twice but we live and learn.”

The Wolves captain admitted it is partly down to the older players in the squad to help the younger crop put the defeat behind them.

He said: “They will learn from it and will come back bigger and stronger next year.

“I couldn’t have asked more of the lads, there were just a few little hiccups here and there in the big games, you get them.

“Losing finals like this just makes you stronger I think.

“It is my third loss so I will be back here fighting again next year.”

Hill issued a rallying call to the town ahead of the Old Trafford showdown and he was not disappointed with the response.

He added: “The fans have been outstanding again – they filled out the Stretford End and I knew they would.

“They have gone up a level again this year, fair play to them.

“We have had a loss in the Challenge Cup Final and a loss here but I am sure they will stick with us.”