VETERAN campaigner Ben Cockayne insists he is in the best shape of his life as he heads into his 15th season in professional rugby league.

The former Hull KR and Wakefield favourite enjoyed a stellar maiden campaign with York City Knights last year, helping them to a stunning Betfred League One title triumph and being nominated for the division's Player of the Year award.

Rejuvenated, he penned a new contract for 2019 in September and, while that deal will take him beyond his 36th birthday this summer, he has stressed age has not caught up with him yet, vowing to battle as fiercely as ever on the pitch as the club look to prove themselves in the Championship.

"I'm in the best physical condition of my career and if this keeps up, I will be going until I'm 40," Cockayne declared, dismissing any suggestion he wants to wind down his career.

"I'm really enjoying myself and, provided I don't get injuries and I can still compete at this level and still contribute, I will keep playing.

"I just love playing and I love the whole competitiveness of a physical game."

Cockayne was a relative latecomer to the pro arena, turning out a couple of times for Hunslet as a 21-year-old in 2004 before making his real breakthrough with Doncaster in 2006 and signing for Hull KR that same year.

He has cited the experiences of England legend Jamie Peacock for his desire to carry on indefinitely. Peacock hung up his boots at Leeds Rhinos at the end of 2015, aged 37, only to pick them up again and play four games for Hull KR in late 2016, a few months before his 39th birthday.

Cockayne reasoned: "Jamie Peacock said to me at Hull KR, when he came out of retirement to play a few games there, that he probably finished too early and that he regretted it.

"I don't want to come to the end of my career and feel I could have gone another year. I would rather keep going.

"While I'm playing good enough rugby to get in the team and while I'm in good condition and good health, I will keep playing."

Cockayne arrived at York as a full-back or winger but, after being thrust in at stand-off to fill a void early last season, he enjoyed a new lease of life, forming a devastating half-back combination with Connor Robinson - who went on to pip him to the League One Player of the Year gong.

Their partnership proved key to the club's record 15-match winning run which took them to the title, and looks set to continue into 2019, with the duo joining forces in the halves for three of the four pre-season matches.

On York's Championship hopes, Cockayne said: "We would obviously love to win the league but we have to be realistic.

"It's a case of progressing, getting better and doing ourselves proud.

"You would expect the teams with full-time players to be up there. Just look at Toronto and Widnes - there's Super League and NRL experience in there.

"We're a part-time team and we haven't got the budget some clubs have. But I don't see why we can't compete in this competition. We'll certainly give it our best shot and hopefully we'll surprise a few people."

While playing most of his career in Super League, Cockayne is no stranger to the second tier, having helped Hull KR win promotion back to the top flight in 2017.

He added: "There will be a few full-time teams and they will obviously be up there - the likes of Widnes, Toronto, Bradford, who have a lot (of full-time players), and Toulouse.

"Halifax will be good as well - they were great last year and have recruited well. The culture there has worked - there are no superstars but they're all best mates and get stuck in.

"There will probably be five or six who will be really strong and if we could maybe get up and around their coattails and be competitive and put pressure on them, that's probably what we'll be aiming for."