A FULL investigation is underway at Rugby League headquarters into the circumstances surrounding Mick Higham's transfer from Leigh Centurions.

But it will be the middle of next week before a decision is reached on whether Higham is a Halifax or St Helens player.

Both clubs claim to have signed the 19-year-old hooker who, along with Centurions' team-mate Stuart Donlan, was granted a release from his Leigh contract by an RFL tribunal last month.

The investigation is being fully supported by Leigh officials who were unhappy that the Blue Sox made their approach while Higham was still under contract at Hilton Park. They claim that Higham signed a contract with Halifax before the tribunal hearing.

"We believe that the tribunal was not in full possession of the facts before it reached it's decision," says Centurions' chairman Mike Nolan.

"They ruled that if we did not negotiate within a couple of days of the ruling, then we would be in fundamental breach of contract. We maintain and contend that we haven't breached the contract because we did undertake negotiations with St Helens. We tried to negotiate with Halifax but they reneged on an earlier unacceptable offer.

"Had the tribunal had all the facts, which we believe this investigation will show, then it might have reached a different decision."

Higham's original contract expired on November 30 but he signed a new contract with Leigh on August 17 to run to the end of next season. According to Leigh officials he signed a contract with Halifax on September 4. The tribunal ruling was handed down on November 15, two days before Higham signed with St Helens.

RFL spokesman John Huxley confirmed that the investigation started yesterday and was expected to last several days before it being referred back to the tribunal for a final ruling.

"This saga has taken a number of twists and turns and we've set aside several days to make sure all the facts are available and depositions made," he said.