The Wigan defence-buster – who was due to jet Down Under for World Cup duty later today – was part of the line-up that put Wales to the sword in Doncaster at the weekend, a mainly experimental English team running out 74-0 victors.

But while Higham and his team-mates were good value for their win – the Wigan hooker enjoying a particularly fruitful performance – it has been
acknowledged that the Welsh opposition was not out of the top drawer.

The side lacked much of the Super League muscle that Tony Smith was able to muster, many of the Welsh players either part-timers, reserves or students who were always going to struggle.
Several players could only call on National League experience and this key difference was not lost on Higham.

He said: "The Welsh boys gave it their all and it was a useful hit-out for all concerned.

"If the outcome had been based on enthusiasm, it probably would have been a draw.

"A lot of people argue that there's still a big step to take up from the lower divisions to the top flight and I think Friday night's game proved that they have a point.

"The effort and fitness was there in the Welsh team, but the intensity and consistency of competition that Super League provides week in, week out shows up in games like these.

"We did come up with some good joined-up play, especially as many of us haven't played together before, and we have to be encouraged by that."

However this was England's only warm-up game in this country before the World Cup and Higham has warned it's not only the weather that's going to be hot in Australia.

The opposition's going to be cooking at gas mark eight as well.

Higham added: "We are in a very demanding pool group alongside Australia and New Zealand and you just can't get tougher than that.
"It's important that we take our win over Wales in context and not get carried away.

"The teams that we're going to be running into once the World Cup kicks off are going to be a far different matter.

"But we go out there with confidence and we can only be stronger when the guys from Leeds and St Helens join us."

Wigan and Warrington fans alike will be monitoring Higham's World Cup progress with interest.
The player has agreed a new deal with Wolves next season after Warriors moved earlier this summer to sign Parramatta Eels hooker Mark Riddell for the 2009 campaign and beyond.

Meanwhile, Stuart Fielden's hopes of a World Cup call-up as a replacement have suffered a setback after the Wigan prop finished Friday game with a swollen knee packed in ice.

He is now waiting for the verdict from a specialist's report.