Wigan Warriors have signed former NRL young player of the year Tim Smith until the end of next season.
Australian looking for fresh start in Super League
Wigan Warriors have signed former NRL young player of the year Tim Smith until the end of next season.
The 23-year-old half-back is a controversial figure in Australia having been suspended by Parramatta last year over allegations of drunken behaviour. He has also been granted indefinite leave this season due to a bipolar disorder.
Smith had stated his intention to remove himself from the spotlight Down Under and has now decided to resume his career in the engage Super League.
The former Australia schoolboy international, who had also been linked with Harlequins, will help fill the void at Wigan left by compatriot Trent Barrett when he leaves at the end of the season.
Relaunch
"I am really looking forward to joining the Wigan club and am grateful for the Warriors for giving me the opportunity to relaunch my playing career," said Smith.
"My aim is to impress the management, coaching staff and fans and to win something with Wigan.
"My personal problems have been well documented but they are now behind me and I want to concentrate only on playing footy."
Smith, who made 71 appearance in the NRL, is waiting for his work permit application to be approved before linking up with the Warriors.
Risks
"We acknowledge some risks - reflected in the contract - in signing Tim after his early-season illness difficulties, but Tim now feels ready to relaunch his rugby league career away from the Sydney media pressure," said Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan.
"We believe the supportive and professional environment at the Wigan club is ideal to help him achieve this.
"He is a young player of outstanding talents who can add a new dimension to our attacking options and we look forward to seeing him in action with the Wigan club in the near future."
Wigan were recently linked with a move for their former scrum-half Michael Dobson from Canberra but the player has since opted for Hull KR.
Barrett will leave the JJB Stadium for Cronulla at the end of the campaign having been granted an early release for personal reasons.
