Leigh Leopards' Jack Hughes on realising his dream against Super League champions

The ex-Great Britain international, 32, won a Grand Final with hometown Wigan but now aims to end their Super League title hopes and make history with Leopards

It was 11 years ago Jack Hughes won a Grand Final with Wigan but he’s out to make sure they don’t add yet another.

Back then, Hughes was just 21, a starry-eyed rookie making his way in the game. Now, as a Great Britain international and veteran of more than 300 games, he aims to lead ‘little old Leigh’ to Old Trafford at the champions’ expense. The Leopards, who finished fifth, head to the leaders’ in their first-ever Super League semi-final this evening having not won a championship since 1982.

It’s a big contrast to the rich history of Wigan who have lifted six league titles in the summer era alone. Hughes, 32, admitted: “It only seems like a handful of years ago that we beat Warrington in 2013. It’s a realisation of how quick time goes. I’ve great memories of it. I was only a young kid back then.

“And it’s always been a dream of mine to get hold of one of those rings again as an established senior player. But I’m not looking too far ahead as we’ve got a big challenge to overcome on Saturday first.”

Hughes lost two Grand Finals against Wigan with Warrington in 2016 and 2018 so knows not to get too excited too soon. But Leigh won the Challenge Cup last year after earning promotion and have made a late surge this time around to be genuine contenders. Hughes added: “It’d be a special achievement to take Leigh to a Grand Final.

“It would be massive. At the moment, with what we’re doing and have done these last couple of years externally, we’re kind of surpassing our expectations. We’re over-achieving. But internally, as a group, the connection we have, standards we’ve got and expectations of each other, we don’t look at ourselves that way.

“We feel we’re exactly where we want to be and should be. “Going to a Grand Final would be a great achievement but if that was to happen, the goal would be to win it. It’s funny how things move as a season goes on. We’re doing well but we’re not just happy getting this close to the big dance.”

Bringing the World Club champions to their knees on their own turf, though, is as tough as it gets especially given Leigh haven’t won there since 1983.

But Wiganer Hughes knows all about what makes Matt Peet’s all-conquering side tick having come through their system. He said: “To beat Wigan you have to match what they do, starting with doing the basics really well.

"They clearly respect the ball and don’t make easy errors or let the pressure off easily. They work hard for each other, defend tough and we have to match all that.

"Wigan also take their opportunities when they get them. When we get a chance we have to execute and keep the pressure on; you can’t let the foot off. It’s going to take something pretty special. But we’re ready.”