rlhttp://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/warriors-seal-deal-to-sign-tomkins-20130622-2opac.htmlrl

This got posted on our Bulls forum may have been more use to you guys.

Until anything is announced by either club, i'm going to remain skeptical.

What i cant see is that why is there only NZW after his signature there are much better teams in the NRL to ply your trade.

I can see why NZW are being linked, Tommy plays there, and there's a strong link between the two clubs, with Dean Bell having a long association with us. I haven't heard anything concrete, now any official source say he's leaving. Sam has also said he'd be the first to hold his hand up and say he was leaving, and nothing from him as well. We won't know anything until at least after the GF [or if Wigan don't make it, after we are knocked out the playoffs]

FWIW I think he'll be a Wigan player next year.

It all depends if his lady friends Husband knows about.

I have stated on another thread (NZ Warriors and Wigan Warriors tie up) that Radlinski is in NZ for three days, now one of the forums is saying that at the end of Radders 3 day stay an announcement maybe made.

Might be a coincidence that Sam is missing on Friday when any announcement would be made.

Just a thought.

You know what we're like nowadays though. Tomkins won't be allowed to say anything until Lenagan say's so and he'll have a whole host of other news to announce to try and gloss over a enormous loss. We'll announce new deals for a few players, a signing or two and a 'flip of the coin' chance deal that Tomkins may come back in the future.

I do think we'll know before the grand final though because this will hang over us like a black cloud if we don't and every defeat or bad performance will get linked back to this.

If I had to say hand on heart will he be here next year I'd say no although I'd love to be proved wrong. I'd love for sense to prevail on our part and cut a deal with NZ Warriors (because his move to the NRL will happen at some point like it or not) for 2015 but not for next year. We need him more then we need a few quid although when I say 'we' I suppose I mean the supporters and the team and neither will have much say. The youngsters simply aren't ready to play week in week out but they could well be in 18 months.

Great post.

Despite Dean Bell and Tommy being over there, I can't see Sam wanting to play under a below par coach. Perhaps it's both Tomkins and Wane that'll be in Auckland next year?

I agree and if he has signed I would love to know the logic IFL will put forward to why this is good business for Wigan.

Spot on.

As to why NZW a factor may be tax. You pay less income tax in NZ than Oz so that may be an issue if the $$ signs are lighting up.

IL is no mug and surely he realises that letting Sam leave at least a year earlier than he needs to is potentially going to be one of the most unpopular decisions in the history of Wigan RL. Maybe there is a deal/contract where Sam goes to NZ for 2/3 years and then returns to Wigan. At the end of the day this will be better for Wigan than him staying another year and then leaving, never to return.

We really do have to wait and see what is announced officially by the club. Radders being in NZ at the moment must also be significant and hopefully he is finalising deals for a couple of quality NZ Warriors players coming to Wigan as part exchange for Sam.

I'm not sure how SL's best player leaving a year earlier than expected can be a good thing?

Did you not read what NickyKiss posted in relation to this idea?

"We'll announce new deals for a few players, a signing or two and a [i'flip of the coin' chance[/i deal that Tomkins may come back in the future."

Why would anyone have any faith in a contract that says he comes back in 2 or 3 years could be enforced when the only reason he will be going is because the supposedly most watertight contract we ever got a player to sign proved as leaky as a sieve?

If IL is about to announce such a deal he must think the fans are gullible or will clutch at any straw going.

Ah yes but we will have money in the bank ! Right ?

That's good business.

Sorry, just using some of the worn out cliches that will continue to be thrown around.