NRL 2024: Morgan Smithies turns up heat on Canberra Raiders’ battle for round one spots

A new arrival from the UK – fresh from his first England cap and a Super League title – is set to place huge pressure on NRL round one spots.

Morgan Smithies in Wigan’s grand final win over Catalans in October. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Rising English forward Morgan Smithies has declared he ‘won’t be making up the numbers’ in Canberra, setting up an intriguing battle for spots in the Raiders’ engine room over the summer.

Fresh from winning the Super League title with Wigan, Morgan arrived in the nation’s capital on Friday ready for a pre-season duel with new teammate and Queensland forward Corey Horsburgh for Canberra’s No. 13 jumper.

Horsburgh nailed down the lock position in 2023, and coach Ricky Stuart also has other options at lock in Trey Mooney and Hohepa Puru.

But Smithies, who has signed until the end of 2026, told this masthead he has his eye on a spot in Stuart’s round 1 side to take on Newcastle on March 7.

“Yeah, 100 per cent. That is the aim, the reason why I am here, and it’s everyone’s aim,” Smithies said.

“I see myself as a number 13 but I can play back row, or anywhere really.”

Morgan Smithies, celebrating Wigan’s grand final win, has joined Canberra for the next three seasons.

Smithies has played 114 games for Wigan since making his debut as an 18-year-old, playing 13 matches in the second row and two at prop.

Like Horsburgh, Hudson Young and veteran Englishman Elliott Whitehead have cemented their respective roles in the back row, leaving Smithies, 23, to fight for a spot on the bench.

“There will be a bit of competition for positions,” Smithies said.

“But that makes you train harder and with that comes improvement. I don’t think it’s a bad thing that there is a challenge for spaces. I just have to work hard and show what I can do in the pre-season.”

Smithies, standing at 185 centimetres and weighing 106kg, has built a reputation as a defensive-minded workhorse, famously making 72 tackles in 62 minutes against Salford in his rookie season, setting a Super League record at the time.

But the youngster added ball playing to his kit bag in recent seasons, modelling his game on English teammate and Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley.

Morgan Smithies is gunning for a round one starting spot. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

“It was one of those games where I was trying to impress, working hard and I ended up making 72 tackles. I was pretty sore the next day,” Smithies said.

“But I don’t just want to be a grafter.

“I’m adding a little bit more smarts to my game in attack, linking with halves and improving my ball playing. It’s something I have been doing over the last few years. I always try to work hard but I want to improve my game.”

Smithies joins a growing list of players lured from England to the Raiders, including Whitehead, Josh Hodgson, George Williams and John Bateman. While Bateman’s stint in Canberra only lasted two seasons, the unorthodox forward played a pivotal role in the side’s 2019 title tilt.

Smithies, who made his international debut for England in April, is hoping to also have an immediate impact in the ACT.

“Whether I do as well as Batey (Bateman) or not … we are two different players … but when he came over to Canberra he absolutely killed it in his first year, he was impressive,” he said. “So if I could do anything like in my first year, I won’t be doing too badly.”

Smithies wasn’t the only Wigan star from the side’s champion outfit to be picked off by an NRL side. The Knights have snapped up back rower Kai Pearce-Paul on a two-year deal.

The loss of the forward duo are a huge blow to Wigan’s chances in February’s World Club Challenge hitout against three-time NRL premiers Penrith.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Morgan Smithies turns up heat on Canberra Raiders’ battle for round one spots