FRONT-ROW strengthening could mean Wolves skipper Chris Hill sitting out a game or two next season – but he would be pleased to break a club record first.

The 29-year-old prop, who has extended his contract with The Wire until the end of 2021, was the only member of the squad to play in every league and cup game during 2016, taking his tally to 83 consecutive appearances including games off the bench.

He is closing in on the club best of 103, held by New Zealand hooker Duane Mann, while Greg Mackey holds the record for most consecutive starts with 98.

As for Hill, who has been a model of consistency since joining the club from Leigh Centurions in late 2011, the last time he missed a Wire game was a 50-24 home win over Bradford in July, 2014.

But with the return of Mike Cooper from NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons, along with the signings of Dom Crosby from Wigan and Andre Savelio from St Helens there is fresh blood contending with Hill, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, George King, Joe Philbin and Pat Moran next season.

His pairing with former North Queensland Cowboys enforcer Sims has led The Wire from the front for two seasons.

Hill said: “I don’t like missing games and plenty of times I probably should have rested up but I’ll not be doing this all my life will I?

“There may be times next year when me and Ash need a rest in certain games and I think we’ll have that rotation next year where we can do that.

“It’s a tough gig to have, up front. A couple of games last year we were short of bodies. You’ve got to rotate a rest at times and maybe we’ve not had that over the past few years but I should imagine next year, hopefully injuries permitting, we’ll have a good squad rotation and a steady squad all year round, a really good squad that competes for the top two again.

“I wouldn’t mind ticking off that club record first but it’s not something I focus on. My dad keeps tally of how many games I’ve played on the bounce and I didn’t even know my tally until the end of the year.

“I just like to be consistent, do my job well every week and that’s what I pride myself on. As long as I’m doing that I’ll tick those games off.”

Hill, who will be recovering from hernia and shoulder operations during the off-season, is also an ever-present for England since making his international debut in an 80-12 defeat of Wales in 2012.

With his Four Nations appearances this autumn, it takes his England sequence to 19 – though his appearance against the Exiles in an International Origin game in 2013 does not count as a cap in official records.

Putting his Warrington and England games together, Hill’s current run stands at 93 consecutive matches.

Although Ryan Bailey, Jordan Cox, Mitchell Dodds, Gary Wheeler, Ben Evans, James Laithwaite have departed The Wire, Hill is happy to see the return of Cooper and Matty Blythe for second spells with the club in 2017, along with the arrival of Crosby and Savelio.

“Coops and Matty have been a part of it before, so they’re coming into an environment they already know as such – there have been some changes over the past few years though,” he said.

“The signings, with Crosby and Savelio, puts a real marker down and bolsters a squad from last year which was a great squad, too.

“There’s exciting times. I popped into the club recently and even though I’d not finished my year at that point, I got the feel of wanting to start playing again for Warrington. I’m looking forward to it.”

His new deal with Wolves, potentially taking him to a Testimonial season, and his England selections cap off his first year as captain of the club, having taken on the role from the departed Joel Monaghan.

He says he is still learning the role and has enjoyed 2016.

“Two finals, we’re the league leaders, it’s been a good year all round,” he said.

“We were probably two 20-minute periods in finals away from it being a dream year.

“I loved being captain, especially with the lads we’ve got here and I hope for more of the same next year.

“I’m not one of those captains that goes around shouting. I lead on the field and the lads look up to me that way.

“I’m still learning and I’ve got people like Gids (Kurt Gidley) at the side of me who has done it for years, so I’m learning off him as well.

“I’m hoping to progress it again further next year and hopefully for many more years to come.”