BEING the first to get your hands on a trophy is one of the perks of being a captain.

However, when that role is shared between two players, it means there is a decision to make.

Chris Hill – Warrington Wolves captain for the past three seasons – has been joined in the role by Jack Hughes this year as Steve Price opted for a co-captaincy system.

When it comes to the ultimate perk of leadership, though, there will only be one man for the job should The Wire triumph over St Helens at Wembley.

“Lifting trophies is Hilly’s job,” Hughes said.

“I’m co-captain and I’m here to support him. He’s worked hard for years for me to get where he is.

“He’s been striving for years to lift a trophy as captain so when that time comes – hopefully on Saturday – I will leave that to him.”

Hill has been part of a Challenge Cup-winning Warrington team in 2012 but has been a Wembley runner-up twice as a captain – in 2016 and 2018.

That is a record he is desperate to change.

“This is what you play rugby for and what you dream of as a kid,” he said.

“Winning it in 2012 was memorable but doing it as captain would be something else.

“With my kids being there as well, it would be a memory that lasts a lifetime.”

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Despite his duties being technically halved for this season, it is clear Hill is still the leader of the pack – it is the prop who leads the side out and speaks to the referee when asked to do so.

When the England international leaves the field for a rest or is not playing, Hughes – more often than not an 80-minute performer in the back row – takes over.

“I’ve not had to take him under my wing as such. He’s helped me a lot this year,” said Hill of his fellow lieutenant.

“If I get spelled or if I’m not playing, Hughesey takes over and it’s an easy enough transition.

“We work well together and we’re good mates off the field, which makes it even better.”

Hughes added: “I feel I’m still growing into the role. I’m learning every day.

“I’m happy with what we’re doing and where it’s going. I’m just here to support Hilly in driving standards around the place on and off the field.

“I’m really enjoying it and I’m looking forward to it growing over the years.”

When Hill and Hughes lead their teammates into the cauldron of Wembley, they face a herculean task if they are to reverse their recent record.

St Helens – by far the stand-out team this year – lie in wait and bookmakers rate The Wire as rank outsiders to lift the famous trophy.

“If you want to lift that trophy, you’ve got to beat the best,” said Hughes.

“We’re coming up against the best team in the competition on Saturday and we’re going to have to do a job on them.

“We’ve had a difficult run to get here. When it’s been needed, we’ve risen to the occasion and got the job done under pressure.

“I don’t think the game will disappoint and the levels will go even higher. It’s going to be a tough ask for us.”

In terms of what The Wire need to do to overcome the side that have already beaten them three times this year, Hill was clear.

“We’ve got to take our chances. You’ve got to be clinical in games like this,” he said.

“We’ve proved we can go set-for-set with them, but they have been the most consistent in taking chances when they arise.

“We’ve got to do that on the day and we’ll turn them over.

We just have to go and enjoy it, but play the game and not the occasion.

“It’s easy to get wrapped up in it all – what your parents and other halves are doing and things like that – but let’s just get the game played.

“It’s something we strive for every year and we’ve had a lot of success in getting to Wembley over the past few years.

“Obviously, we haven’t got over the line since 2012 and there’s a great hunger between the lads to change that.”