[ad_1]
Wigan Warriors forward Morgan Smithies has left the reigning Super League champions to join NRL side Canberra Raiders on a three-year deal.
The England loose forward, 22, progressed through the club’s junior ranks to break into the first team.
He made 114 appearances for the Warriors and won a Super League Grand Final, the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders’ Shield twice.
“I can’t thank Wigan enough for what they have done,” Smithies said.
“Joining Wigan in the scholarship and coming through to debut for the club, playing over 100 games, and now leaving as a Challenge Cup and Super League winner – I couldn’t have asked for more.
“I now get to move on to the next part of my career and achieve a goal of playing in the NRL.”
Smithies started the Super League Grand Final win over Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford in October.
His decision to leave comes after the club offered him an extension to his contract, the Cherry and Whites said.
“Morgan came to see us a couple of months ago and told us about an opportunity that had arisen in the NRL,” Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski said.
“After Morgan expressed ultimate commitment and devotion to achieving Grand Final success in 2023, we said we would consider it at the end of the season.
“During that time, we worked diligently on our recruitment process to ensure that we had appropriate cover for his pending departure. Subsequently, we have now agreed to release him.”
