Another brilliant signing. Who'd have thought a couple of years ago that we would have Higham, Moi Moi and Hock all playing for us?

Welcome home Micky.

I can't speyk. What a fantastic bit of news.

Meanwhile, Tony Smith delivered a parting shot at Higham, who was under contract with the Wolves to the end of the season but has rejoined his home-town club with immediate effect. "I'm pleased it's over," Smith said. "It came as a shock to the team and staff and I'm glad to draw a line under it. "I'm pleased we've got a great replacement in Brad and it gives you a lesson in that you don't know everybody quite in the way you think you do. "Sometimes you find out a bit more about people but overall I'm pleased it's been resolved and we've got a crew here now that are 100 per cent committed to the cause and that's what you want." Bless ! (borrowed from www.sportinglife.com)

Meanwhile, Tony Smith delivered a parting shot at Higham, who was under contract with the Wolves to the end of the season but has rejoined his home-town club with immediate effect. "I'm pleased it's over," Smith said. "It came as a shock to the team and staff and I'm glad to draw a line under it. "I'm pleased we've got a great replacement in Brad and it gives you a lesson in that you don't know everybody quite in the way you think you do. "Sometimes you find out a bit more about people but overall I'm pleased it's been resolved and we've got a crew here now that are 100 per cent committed to the cause and that's what you want." Bless ! (borrowed from www.sportinglife.com)

Smith's comments are pathetic.
Mickey Higham has given blood in the Warrington cause and Smith isn't big enough to acknowledge his efforts and reward him by releasing him back to his home town club to take up a contract that gives him some security and that no doubt Warrington were not prepared to match.
Smith is reacting like a bully boy who has just lost his first real fight.
Welcome home Mickey - rest assured your efforts will be fully appreciated at Leigh.

So imagine one of your first team squad who plays in a key position, and who's only back up is injured, suddenly says he wants to leave. You wouldn't be disappointed in him and the club that has unsettled him........I don't think so.

Adds a bit of spice to the CC game (micky won't be playing)

TF, if Smith had respected Mickey with a decent contract I dont think this thread would exist.

Tony Smith usually keeps things close to his chest in house if you like, unusual for him to comment publicly on such matters so it seems to him something is awry, sure Smith will be miffed Mickey was in his plans and it's caused a major disruption, personally I wish he'd seen out his contract but it was not to be,all water under the bridge now.

All the very best to Mickey and his family for the future, see you all at the HJ.

Why are they pathetic?.... Higham bailed out on a contract, having his head turned illegally by Leigh (Remember, you can negotiate for next season, but not for the present season unless you have the permission of the player's present club), so Smith is well within his rights to question the player's conduct .

For those who will undoubtedly question me suggesting it was good old fashioned poaching, do you really think 50 grand for a player in his mid 30's is good value, or do you actually think the excessive fee is probably a sweetener to Wire to stop this rumbling on and ending up in a court?

Watch Paul Rowley interview on Boots n All tonight , it's very good and very enlightening,Paul is a very articulate young man who puts forward some very interesting points on the said subject,then make your mind up.For me BOTH Mickey and Leigh have behaved in a very professional manner, listen to Paul final sentence.

Fifty grand might seem a lot,but if you look at the bigger picture it is a small price to pay if it gets us to Super league,with even bigger attendances and playing in the top league.Welcome back Mickey,and well done to all involved for getting him here.

Correct...

To be fair, nobody from Leigh is going to come out and openly admit an illegal approach for Higham - However, you would have to be a tad naïve to believe the transfer was done all by the book.

For it to be 100% legal, Leigh would have had to approach Wire in the first instance, with Higham having absolutely NO knowledge of their interest in wanting him for the remainder of this season - This obviously wasn't the case.

Quite legally, Leigh would have offered Higham his deal for 2016 and beyond, but to even suggest an immediate move would put their approach into the realms of shady.

I don't think you have to be a genius to see what has gone on... Higham got offered what he felt was an insulting contract offer from Wire for 2016, he rightly went looking for a better offer, gets one from Leigh, who plant the seed in his head that they would be interested in him joining immediately, Leigh make offer, while Higham throws strop demanding he be released early.... Personally, I don't have anything against Higham trying to do what is right for him and his family, but let's not think that everything was above board on this.

I think Tony Smith's ill-advised comments are all the evidence you need that things were not straight-forward.

OK, if Leigh are in the wrong the RFL will act. Oh and if anyone libels anyone on here we do have a lawyer on board

All it takes is a 'word/email/text' to the player or agent..doesn't it ? Gordon Strachan once said if he was in the company of a footie player that he wanted to sign, he'd say to him "do you wanna come and play for me ?"
Who's to know ????