Sam Tomkins could return to the NRL after his next Wigan stint. The English fullback plays his penultimate game for the Warriors tomorrow against the West Tigers, after being released from the final season of his three-year contract due to homesickness.
Despite his early departure - and mixed experience in the southern hemisphere - Tomkins says he would welcome the possibility of another spell in Australasia.
"I'm open to another stint in the NRL - 100 per cent. That's definitely not ruled out," he said. "I'm going back to Wigan for three years but I don't know after that. After my [next] contract at Wigan, I'll be 29. Hopefully I'll have plenty of league left in me by then.
"For the time being, I'm looking forward to getting home and being around family and friends. But there is nothing to say I won't come back at some point - or be over this side of the world. Maybe when I start my own family in a few years, I'll be looking to move away again."
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.It's not easy to judge Tomkins' impact at the Warriors. He wasn't the franchise-changer fans had been sold, which was expected with the large salary and transfer fee. But neither has he been the worst high-profile buy in the club's history. That honour can still be bestowed on the likes of Andy Platt, Denis Betts or rugby converts Mark Carter or Mark Robinson.
He started to live up to some of the hype in the second half of last season after a difficult start to his NRL career. He wasn't the Warriors' version of Billy Slater or Brett Stewart but wasn't far away. He scored 13 tries in 24 games and also managed 13 try assists, with his blink-and-you'll-miss-it tip-on passes becoming a regular feature for the highlights reels.
Tomkins also averaged 100 running metres per game and made almost 97 tackle breaks, as well as developing an almost telepathic combination with halfback Shaun Johnson.
The 26-year-old hasn't managed anywhere near the same output in 2015. Part of that must be attributed to the team's performance - playing in the Warriors No 1 jersey has been a thankless task during their rapid descent over the last six weeks. He was also affected by injury this season, missing 10 matches. There have been some nice touches - and some vital defensive efforts - but overall has lacked some spark. Tomkins hadn't scored a try until he touched down against the Panthers two weeks ago and has managed just three try assists, two linebreaks and 22 tackle breaks all season. That's not commensurate with his status as one of the highest paid players at the club.
However, he has remained an important member of the team. The Warriors struggled to replace him in the first half of this season and he has maintained a 50 per cent winning record across his two years at Mt Smart.
