Friday 17 April 2015 10:18, UK
England international Sam Tomkins has revealed he rejected an offer from Warrington in order to return to Wigan next season.
The 2012 Super League Man of Steel Tomkins, 26, has agreed to sign a four-year contract at the end of the current NRL campaign.
He moved from the Warriors to join New Zealand Warriors in 2013 for a world-record fee of around £700,000.
However the Kiwis agreed to release the playmaker from his three-year deal 12 months early after his failure to settle fully in Auckland and accepted a fee from Wigan in excess of £200,000.
His much-anticipated return was announced at half-time in Warrington's Super League visit to the DW Stadium hosts.
Tomkins will join older brother, Joel, who also returned to Wigan last year after three years in rugby union at Saracens while younger brother Logan is also on the Warriors' books.
"Yes, I was speaking with a couple of clubs but it was always going to be between Wigan and Warrington," Tomkins told Sky Sports News HQ. "They showed a bit of interest and are successful.
"I thought about it but in the end the pull to go back to Wigan and play alongside my two brothers was too big. It's special playing alongside them - I've played alongside them in Super League but never together.
"I am really happy to have this sorted and to be returning home to Wigan. All of my friends and family live in Wigan, a lot of them play for Wigan. It really was a no-brainer for me when I sat down and thought about things.
"It's been a fantastic experience to test myself in the NRL but the reality is I am 13,000 miles away from my friends and family. When I left Wigan I always knew in my heart that I would return to play for the club one day and I am very excited at the thought of returning to the DW Stadium and pulling on that famous jersey once again.
"I have really enjoyed my time in New Zealand and can't thank everyone enough here as they have all done so much to make me feel welcome here since my arrival last year. My sole focus for the remainder of 2015 is to help the Warriors make the play-offs as we look to mount a serious challenge for the NRL Premiership."
Tomkins made his Wigan bow, at the age of 19, against Whitehaven in a fifth round Challenge Cup tie in May 2008, when he became the first player in rugby league history to score five tries on his first-grade debut.
He went on to make 129 Super League appearances from 2009-13, in which he scored 107 tries.
Thursday's announcement will signal the departure of Australian full-back Matt Bowen, who was signed as Tomkins' replacement, initially on a 12-month contract which was subsequently extended.
Once I heard that Sam was looking to come back to England next year I knew we had to pull out all the stops to have him here.
Coach Shaun Wane said: "Once I heard that Sam was looking to come back to England next year I knew we had to pull out all the stops to have him here.
"He is one of our own and a truly world class player. Sam knows what we are all about here at Wigan. He understands our culture and our systems and will slot perfectly back into my squad. My thanks go to our Chairman Ian Lenagan and Rugby Director Kris Radlinski who have worked tirelessly to make this happen."
And chairman Ian Lenagan said: "We have a strategy at Wigan of developing home-grown players and allowing players who want the extra challenge to go to the NRL or rugby union and return to Wigan as better players.
"Sam is undoubtedly one of the finest players in world rugby and we acted swiftly when it became apparent that he wanted to return to the UK.
"This is another tremendous signing for the Wigan club and only serves to justify our policy of allowing players to experience other competitions whilst always keeping the option available for them to return to the club in the future."
