SWINTON LIONS coach Paul Wood has been left satisfied with what he has seen so far from teenage outside back Harry Higham, who has been named in the latest Rugby League World League One Team of the Month.
The 19-year-old son of Super League great Mickey Higham made his Lions debut as a winger in the 24-14 Challenge Cup second-round loss at Whitehaven, before moving into the centres for the the narrow 18-16 defeat at Rochdale in the 1895 Cup preliminary round two.
He retained his centre spot for the League One opener at home to Whitehaven, scoring twice in a man-of-the match display as his side won 16-10.
“Harry is very much like his dad – he’s ultra competitive,” said Wood, a former teammate of the older Higham.
“For his second try against Whitehaven, he went up for the ball, took it down in two hands and scored – that’s because he’s competing for everything and wants to be involved in everything.
“He is more of an out-and-out winger but I see him moving into centres for us because he runs a good line and he’s adding competition in that position.
“That’s what I want this season. We’ve brought lads in because we want competition and for everyone to be pushing for places.
“Full credit to Harry, he deserves to enjoy the Whitehaven win. He was very good defensively and competed for everything, as did all the lads. I’m really pleased for him.”
Wood also said his decision to play Jordan Paga in that victory was worth the minor penalty he received for it.
Reece Briers was initially expected to start in the halves alongside Dan Abram, but his late withdrawal handed a chance to Paga, who was not named in Wood’s initial 21-man squad for the fixture.
“I took a massive gamble with Jordan because he wasn’t in my initial squad, but I just felt it was the right thing to do to bring him in for the game,” he added.
“We lost a substitution on the back of that, but I am willing to take those risks at times – you have to be in sport.
“It paid off because Jordan started the game great and scored the opening try. He worked well with Dan and they controlled the game.
“We need to get better on our last-tackle options, but the halves did really well.”