Home Comforts Lure Tomkins To Wigan

17 April 2015 03:33

The pull of friends and family was too much for Sam Tomkins to resist as he prepares to pack his bags for home.

The England full-back is cutting short his stay with New Zealand Warriors to return to his home-town club Wigan from next season after admitting he had become homesick.

Just like older brother Joel and ex-Parramatta prop Lee Mossop, Tomkins is taking up an option to return to his former club earlier than planned.

"It wasn't me saying I needed to leave but two years away from home is enough for me," Tomkins said from his home in Auckland after agreeing a new four-year deal with Wigan.

"I'd like to take the opportunity to thank the Warriors over here - they understand where I was coming from. It's tough being on the other side of the world and they said if they could sign an adequate replacement they'd release me and they found a real quality one (in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck).

"That was pretty much it. Just being round family and friends is the only reason. Auckland is a beautiful place, a couple of minutes from the beach - very different to Wigan.

"The truth is I want to be around family and friends. It happens often across all sports that players don't see out their contract. The Warriors have been great from day one and tried to work with me on it.

"As I said last week, I hadn't expected things to play out like this but there are lots of things I have been missing about home, most of all family and friends.

"I'm pleased about having the opportunity to go back earlier than planned and to have the chance of playing alongside my brothers Joel and Logan with Wigan next year."

News of Tomkins' re-signing was made by chairman Ian Lenagan at half-time during Thursday night's 30-20 win over Warrington at the DW Stadium and was greeted with rapturous applause by the 14,000 crowd.

Tomkins, who turned 26 last month, scored 144 tries in 152 appearances for Wigan, helping them to two Super League and two Challenge Cup triumphs along the way.

Wigan received a world record transfer fee of around £700,000 for the player and have paid in excess of £200,000 to get him back.

Tomkins, who rejected a rival offer from Warrington, insists he remains fully committed to his Auckland club until the end of this season.

He has been sidelined since March 21 after partially tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is set to return either against Gold Coast on April 25 or Cronulla on May 9.

Source: PA-WIRE