Chris Hill believes he still has plenty to offer in Super League next season as he prepares to join up with a new club. Hill left Huddersfield Giants at the end of the season after spending three years in West Yorkshire, where he made 51 appearances and represented the club in the final of the Challenge Cup.
Of course, the 36-year-old, who turns 37 next month, has now played over 500 club games over the course of his career, with lengthy stints coming with Leigh Centurions, as they were called then, and Warrington Wolves prior to his move across the Pennines to join the Giants.
However, as he approaches what will be his 20th year in the game, Hill finds himself preparing for life at a new club and the start of a new chapter.
“I’m excited for the future,” Hill told Serious About RL at England’s training base in Greater Manchester. “It will be announced soon and I’m looking forward to it.
“It will be my 20th year next year, I started ’05, so I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m feeling as fresh as you can be at 36 years old, and at this time of year as well. I’ve still got a lot to give and a lot of learning to do. No matter how old you are, you can always learn.”
Reflecting on his three-year stint at the John Smith’s Stadium, Hill added: “I loved every minute of it, a great set of lads and a great club.
“Ken [Davy] is a great owner and he does a really good job up there, obviously he’s announced the plans for the new stadium which I think will be great for them to get their own fanbase and put their own stamp on it up there.
“I loved every minute of it and made some friends for life up there and I’m really glad I did it. The M62 wasn’t too bad actually at times. The highlight was the Challenge Cup final but that was obviously the lowlight as well because I got injured.”
Hill will be replaced in the Huddersfield Giants pack by Tom Burgess, a man he still counts as a teammate on the international stage. The pair are preparing for this weekend’s Test against Samoa and but Hill has still found the time to dish out a few words of advice as his fellow front-rower prepares to join up with Luke Robinson’s outfit.
“Yeah, take a woolly coat because in winter it’s 10 degrees colder up there, trust me,” Hill joked when asked if he had any words of wisdom for Burgess.
“I’ve spoken to him, he’s living in a pretty nice area. There’s some really nice areas up there, but yeah, it will be cold.”