There was some talk somewhere they want $400,000 of the $1.3m they paid.

It seems quite specific and makes me wonder if it's an instalment still due to Wigan that we would wave for him to come back. I don't know if we got all that cash in one go but it makes me wonder.

Just hope it's sorted soon. The longer it drags the greater the chance of another team pulling it off.

I'm not sure anyone can afford that mate. Maybe salford Leeds and Wigan Imo are the only clubs that could get him.

NZ warriors didnt waste any time in replacing him did they?

Not a bad replacement either albeit a very different sort of player.

What's $400k in real money? About half that in pounds? It's a pretty big fee but it's well worth it for many clubs IMO. He will put bums on seats and bring a lot of publicity to any club that signs him.

Hand on heart I think Wigan, Leeds, Wire and Salford will put offers on the table for him. It sounds very much like it's done already though with Tomkins saying it'll be a few days before it's announced. That's gives me confidence that it will be us but we'll see.

They only agreed to the release once they had a replacement confirmed, so this has been in the pipeline for a while. NZW confirmed this. It also leads me to believe Wigan have known about this for months and have had plenty of time to prepare.

Got told last night that its "nailed on" that he will (or already has) be signing for us but there will be several players offloaded to accomodate him (a certain young up and coming full back was one of the names suggested)

You do understand this is for next year there will be no one offloaded any time soon

There are already a number of player coming off contract this year, including our fullback

obviously it is for next season. just saying what I've been told, we are currently operating under the cap with pettybourne leaving and its almost a certainty that Bowen, Patrick and Budgie won't be with us next season, that should give us a good chunk of cap space but its certainly feasible that we may have to offload (or choose not to renew) some existing players is it not? I believe certain players have already been told this is the case.

I think Lewis Tierney may be one of those released.

It's my understanding that Ryan Hampshire has one and a half years left on his contract PLUS another year option in Wigans favour, which if taken up would then go to the end of 2017.

Tierney has recently signed a new contract so he'd be a difficult one to release but I think this forum would go into meltdown if Hampshire is allowed to leave.

.....

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/

You can hear his brain ticking over as soon as he says it as to how he can paper over it.

Hopefully it's not dragged out and it is done.

Rumours i've heard are rocky to leeds,people close to hampshire arnt happy with him playing fullback

Then heard today if sam comes back he has been signed to play at 6.

Who knows

Quote ="tugglesf78"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/'" hah awesome spot he definitely said i wont be pulling a wigan shirt on until next february

Quote ="tugglesf78"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/'" hah awesome spot he definitely said i wont be pulling a wigan shirt on until next february

We will be in the minority but I agree with you.
Hampshire has that one thing in abundance that can make a good player a great player pace. Sam is quick but Hampshire appears even faster.
If Hampshire leaves I for one would be gutted and the arrival of Sam would not sweeten the pill as we would still appear weak in the halves.
Retaining Hampshire and getting Sam back would be perfect.