The 32-year-old former St Helens and Wigan number nine has enjoyed a new lease of life this year as he competes with Australian Michael Monaghan for the Wolves hooking role and has so far missed only two of the club’s 25 league and cup matches.
“If there’s been a more consistent player in the competition this year, I can’t think of one,” said Smith, who as England coach took Higham to the 2008 World Cup in Australia and believes he could even do a job for his successor Steve McNamara this year.
“He’s always been a terrific runner of the ball but he’s a far more complete player nowadays.
“People used to run over him but that doesn’t happen any more. He is a very good defender. Teams try to wear him out but he faces up to that and he still hurts them with his running game. I think he’s in the form of his life. I don’t know where he sits on the radar with England but he’d do a great job if called upon.
“We’ve got some terrific young talented hookers in the competition but, if you need some experience and reliability, you could do far worse than Micky. He wouldn’t let anybody down.”
Higham, who is playing for a new contract, admits his rivalry with Monaghan is helping bring out the best in him but he also believes they will both face a stern test on Sunday against Hull’s outstanding hooker Danny Houghton.
Houghton, 24, frequently plays 80 minutes, with back-up hooker Aaron Heremaia needed in the halves, and consistently produces high-quality performances.
“I don’t know how he does it, week in week out,” Higham said.
“You do get atuned to it but it’s a massive effort from him because his workrate is phenomenal as well. He’s a great player who is in great form and it will be a key battle out there this week. I like playing against Danny, he plays it the right way as well.”
Warrington, who have won the cup for three of the last four years, will go into Sunday’s semi-final as clear favourites after winning their last eight matches.
Hull, conversely, have lost their last five Super League games but they pulled off a surprise in the last round against Catalan Dragons and were the last team to beat the Wolves, a result which is not lost on Higham.
“I don’t think Hull’s league form has been that great but they seem to raise their game for the cup,” he said. “They came here a few months back and did a real job on us. We played quite well that night, they were just better than us. We’re not big on revenge but we were hurting that night. It’s our only defeat in 12 or 13 games.”
Rugby League - Smith tips Higham to hit heights
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