Jack was ever-present for Leopards in 2024 and the vastly experienced international backrower is now closing in on 350 senior appearances.

A Wigan-born lad who originally came through at Golborne Parkside as a junior before joining Wigan St Jude’s, Hughes signed for Wigan Warriors but made his professional debut on loan for Barrow Raiders against Batley Bulldogs in April 2011.

Ironically, his Wigan debut came just a month later, against Barrow Raiders, in the Challenge Cup as the Warriors ran out 52-0 victors. It was here that Hughes first teamed up with current Leopards’ winger Josh Charnley. As Wigan had a dual registration partnership with Leigh, he played a one-off game for the then Centurions in June 2013 against Featherstone Rovers, earning heritage number HN#1380. Later that season, he was an interchange for Wigan in their Grand Final victory over Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford after becoming a more regular fixture in the Warriors’ line-up.

Following another one-off game for Workington Town in 2014, the following year he went on a season-long loan to Huddersfield Giants and helped them make the Super 8’s before being defeated by his parent club Wigan in the semi-finals. Jack then signed for Warrington Wolves and went on to make 169 appearances for the club over a seven-year period, scoring 26 tries and winning a Challenge Cup medal in 2019 after experiencing defeat in the 2016 and 2018 finals and 2016 and 2018 grand finals.

On the international scene, he has made a total of eight appearances for both England Knights and Great Britain between 2012 and 2019. Though troubled by a calf injury in his first season at the Leopards Den he played a crucial role in the 2023 Challenge Cup Final victory.