Not a stand out player in the NRL nobody would seriously think Tomkins had anything like the impact Burgess has had now he was a stand out

I have lived here for 4 years and still get homesick

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/32232281 I haven't listened to the audio, but see the caption states he 'misses the pies in Wigan'. His quotes are in such a way that if you are a Pies fan you will believe he is going back, or if you are an easily excitable fan elsewhere you might think he could go to you. With the state of that beard though, I would not want him! (Plus, FB is a well-stocked area at the moment)

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/32232281 I haven't listened to the audio, but see the caption states he 'misses the pies in Wigan'. His quotes are in such a way that if you are a Pies fan you will believe he is going back, or if you are an easily excitable fan elsewhere you might think he could go to you. With the state of that beard though, I would not want him! (Plus, FB is a well-stocked area at the moment)

He's going back to Wigan. That's it. End of the storrrrrreeeee

But is it? In the radio interview yesterday he stated something along the lines of it's not as obvious as people may think with regards to which club he will join and he says he wants a new start at a new club. I wouldn't refer to returning to Wigan as a new start. That is what has set off the speculation. Wigan have loaded all their young players with big contracts as part of their 'give them big contracts and sell them to Union/NRL' policy. Williams, Smith both have freshly signed 4 year contracts for example and they are both terrible. Manfriedi got one recently and he's done nothing in the first team yet.

Is it possible Wigan haven't got cap room for his contract? Could the 'it's not as obvious' line refer to a year at Catalans or Salford before joining Wigan for the season after?

I can't see him joining anyone else tbh, but if he was off to Wigan, why the cloak and dagger stuff?

It builds up hype / talk and thus generates more fanfare when the announcement is made. It would be less 'newsworthy' if it was announced straightaway that he is off back to Wigan but by allowing people to talk and rumour it then somehow makes it more exciting in a backwards way when it is confirmed that he is going back there, as fans / other teams might have got themselves fantasising that it 'might be us'.

Also makes it sound more of a "coup" for Wigan that Phil Clarke can knock one out over on Sky.

If he'd just come straight out and said "I'm leaving New Zealand and signing for Wigan", it wouldn't look like Wigan had somehow fought off stiff competition for his signature.

He's going back to Wigan only other thing is who are Wigan going to offload and where are they going?

rlhttps://www.superleaguefans.com/videos/play/UerrHhhgNtErl

To be sorted in the next few days, It's definitely not union and he must be at an advanced stage of negotiations, I cant see it being anyone else but Wigan.

I assume Bowen is off contract at the end of this season - isn't it as simple as that. Everyone as you were

Agreed, but Tomkins personal terms could force others to be released to get below the cap UNLESS the marquee player proposal comes about.
Due to be discussed/proposed/ratified in June?

2013

Out - Tomkins, Richards, Mossop, Lauaki, Hansen, tuson, prescott
IN - Bowen, (Joel) Tomkins, Pettbourne, Sarginson, Clubb, Bateman, Jordan James, Sam Hopkins

2014
Out - Pettybourne, Jordan James, Goulding, Green, Scott Taylor, Hughes, Dudson.
IN - Patrick, Mossop, Tautai.

2015
Out- Bowen (retire), Burgess

Wigan will not be over the cap. there have been a lot of contract upgrades for sure, but only (joel) tomkins, Mossop and Bowen who have come in will be earning anything large. (Sam) Tomkins(Bowen probably given tomkins money to come over in first place), Richards, Mossop (probably on same contract as when he left), Hansen, Green and Scott Taylor would have all had decent contract at Wigan. I doubt Wigan would find it too hard to fit Sam back under the cap. As everyone keeps saying we keep letting our top players leave and replacing them with kids, i doubt those kids get paid much at all!

i think all the "bluff" is to do with the pre arranged salary IL talked about the other day (i think) this way ST makes it out hes really wanted by other clubs and wigan up the offer. simple

If Tomkins is homesick then they can pay him peanuts as he has no choice but to come back to the poor world of Super League Europe

If Wigan are paying anywhere near the cap for the squad they've got in 2015, someone has royally messed up their contract negotiations.