Harry Smith explains 'no-brainer' Wigan Warriors contract decision as 'legacy' ambition aired

Harry Smith admits signing a new long-term contract with Wigan Warriors was a ‘no-brainer’ as the England international looks to add further silverware to an already glittering career.

The 26-year-old halfback recently committed his future to the Warriors until the end of the 2030 season after agreeing to a new four-year deal.

Smith, who came through Wigan’s famed youth system after joining the club as a teenager, has established himself as one of Super League’s leading playmakers, making 175 appearances and helping the club win two Super League titles, three League Leaders’ Shields, three Challenge Cups and the World Club Challenge.

Having already achieved so much in the game, Smith insists his desire to compete in major finals and win trophies remains as strong as ever.

“I’m over the moon to secure my future with such a great club,” Smith said.

“A bit of a no-brainer, really, with the success we’ve had and the role I have here, so I’m just happy to get it over the line, get it sorted and hopefully I can focus on just playing now and being in those big games at the end of the season.”

Although negotiations can often be lengthy and complicated, Smith revealed that discussions between his representatives and the club progressed smoothly.

“I can imagine you get so many different answers for so many different players in different situations,” he said.

“My situation, I think I was already contracted for next year anyway, so there was a bit of chat between my agent and the club in trying to get a long-term deal sorted and then just negotiating from there and finding that happy medium between what you want to accept and what the club are willing to pay, and then once both parties were happy, I put pen to paper.

“I actually only signed it recently, so it’s all come around quite quickly, the announcement and doing all these interviews, so that was my story.”

Smith admitted there was a desire from both parties to avoid him entering the final year of his existing contract.

“You could say so, yeah,” he said.

“I think it was just a bit of a mutual agreement from the club not wanting me to go into my last year, and myself wanting to sort my future out, really, so it worked out quite well that both sides of the negotiation were looking to get something sorted, so I’m just really happy that it got sorted and we can move on now.”

Despite already winning every major domestic honour available, Smith says his competitive nature continues to drive him forward.

“100 per cent it’s the same feeling,” he said.

“You want to be playing for this great club, playing in big games and winning trophies - that’s my thought process.

“A lot of the lads will say I’m quite competitive, I know Matty (Peet) has said that a few times, so I just want to win and I feel like this is the best place to do it.

“We’ve got a great squad, great coaching staff, everything about the club’s amazing at the minute, so to be on this journey with the club is a real positive for me and one that I couldn’t turn down.”

Although originally from Widnes, Smith admits Wigan now feels like home after spending almost half of his life at the club.

“I think so,” he smiled when asked if he now feels like an adopted Wiganer.

“I’ve been here since I was 14. Some lads who I went to school with say my accent’s changed quite a lot since I was 14... Maybe I’ve got a bit of that Wigan twang now!

“It’s all I’ve known, so I’m just happy and I’m quite lucky to come up in this environment, winning trophies quite early in my career. Not many people win trophies, so to be able to do it that early in my career, it’s given me that hunger to keep pushing on and you could say trying to build a legacy as a team, as an individual and as a club.”