It was our mutual school friend that told me last night, he certainly suggested there had been dialogue with Hampshire, I'd be stunned myself.

On the TotalRL forum somebody reckons Tomkins let it slip on a NZ radio program overnight that 'he was totally committed to NZ until he's back in a Wigan shirt next year' when asked about giving his all to the NZ Warriors for the rest of this year.

Let's hope so.

One thing I do hope happens is that Sam returns from injury and has a really strong 2nd half of the NRL year. The vultures are out down under; some labelling him a 'failure' which is ludicrous. He might not set the league on fire but he's been a good performer. I hope he can make a big impact when he's back in the side. Knowing that he'll be coming home at the end of the year might help.

fb.me/4TfZGp1kC Thats the interview.

fb.me/4TfZGp1kC Thats the interview.

Good interview... He tried to side step the slip...

I personally would not want Sam to come back IF:

he moves on again after a year or two to play rugby union

OR

it means that Ryan Hampshire has to leave

The problem is that out of Smith, Williams, Powell and Hampshire, only Hampshire has not signed a long-term contract.

Have to disagree with you here. I don't want Hampshire to leave necessarily but I'd rather that than see Sam at Warrington or wherever. Tbh I find the adulation over Hampshire a little overdone. Wasn't Sam already ripping it up in SL by the time he was Hampshire's current age? He is still a prospect in my eyes whereas Sam is a proven world class performer. Not much of a contest in my eyes, though I'll probably get slated for saying so.

Agreed. I'd really like to see the Warriors make the 8 and do well this season. They are so much fun to watch when they are on song, and liven up the sometimes-dull NRL no end.

With Hampshire, he is blessed with pace/acceleration. I can't think of a halfback in Super League with more pace. He has that little something about him (the flick pass against Saints away last year, the tries against salford away last year) and I think the fear is he signs for a rival Leeds/Saints/Wire and they have a top class halfback for the next decade/till he moves to the NRL.

Equally though if Sam signed for Warrington over the weekend we would be fuming.

The questions comes down to, do we have to lose Hampshire to sign Tomkins? And if we do, would you do it?

Fully agree.

World class player or promising junior?

No brainer for me but it should be both as there's room IMO. To get Hampshire tied in to a new deal and Tomkins signed would be such a boost.

Sam is 100 percent Wigan bound Listen to the mistake he makes on 6 minutes Ha. www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/veit ... o-quitter/

Sam is 100 percent Wigan bound Listen to the mistake he makes on 6 minutes Ha. www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/veit ... o-quitter/