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?

rlhttp://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.

Wigan are going to push for the marquee player rule supported by Koukash and Moran. The cap will then be irrelevant as far as his return to wigan is concerned

Marquee player rule IN

By plenty

No really

Oh

Interesting to see that Wikipedia has him down as a Leeds Rhinos player. However anyone can write anything on there as it did quickly change to Warrington back to Leeds again.

I could change it to say he's played 200 games for Leeds and was poached from our academy by Wigan if you like... Seriously that is how Wikipedia works...

In fairness that's why I did put "However anyone can write anything on there"

Never quite the same, going back. Rarely hit the same heights IME.