Wigan Warriors' Morgan Smithies tipped to be 'one of Super League's best'

He is still only 20, but Morgan Smithies can have a hugely-influential role in Wigan’s assault on a Grand Final spot.

That’s the bold prediction of coach Adrian Lam, who reckons the forward could be one of the competition’s best players over the coming weeks.

Smithies – who debuted in 2018 – has already notched up more than 50 games for the Warriors, as well as taking the Super League record for tackles in a game with 72.

But Lam is convinced there is much more to come from the Halifax-born forward (right) following his return to the side from injury, starting at Hull KR tonight. He

said: “Morgan has had a lot of weeks off with a high ankle strain which is as good as a rest, and over the last two months of the competition I would expect him to be one of the best players in Super League.

“We all know him as a hard-working, defending forward, and I felt before his injury he was starting to find another level with the speed of his carries.”

Smithies played second-row last week but - with Liam Farrell, John Bateman and Willie Isa also in the mix to face the Robins in front of the Sky Sports cameras – is likely to be used in the middle.

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“I think with the backrowers we have got, we have to find him a way in the middle - he’s not as big as the front-rowers but he certainly holds his own,” added Lam.

“He holds the record for the most tackles in a Super League game, he can do 70-odd tackles and do the other stuff. When he’s in the middle he tightens everything up for us.”