Queensland have retained another off-contract star with tighthead Greg Holmes penning a one-year extension to take him into his 12th Super Rugby season with the Reds.

Holmes has been in career-best form for the Reds this season as the cornerstone of a pack which has stolen the second-most scrums against the feed across the competition.

The 32-year-old’s re-signing comes hot on the heels of fellow forward Liam Gill’s decision to turn down an offer from the Melbourne Rebels and stay put in Queensland.

“To be honest, it wasn’t a difficult decision to recommit to the club,” Holmes said.

“I’ve played for Queensland my entire career, so I always wanted to continue to play for this jersey.

“Playing for Queensland is something special and everyone who pulls the jersey on appreciates what it means.

“We’re representing the entire state and that means a lot to us as players.”

Holmes this year became Queensland’s most-capped Super Rugby player, with 129 appearances in the competition, while he also sits fourth on the list of all-time Queensland players with 131 caps for the state.

He made his Queensland and Super Rugby debut in 2005, which was followed by his first Wallabies start in the same year.

He has represented Australia 13 times and, on the back of his season for the Reds, will be every chance to add to that tally during the coming Test campaign and September’s Rugby World Cup in England.

“Greg loves the Reds,” coach Richard Graham said.

“In that sense alone, he is an important signing.

“As a tighthead prop, he is scrummaging the best he ever has.

“He has been part of a dominant set piece and it is crucial we continue to have a focus in that area.

“We are developing an excellent group of young props and Greg is an important part of their progression.

“It will be one of our most-competitive areas for selection in 2016.”