As this board is liable to go into meltdown at 3pm it's probably useful to have one thread discussing any departures mentioned at the 3pm press conference in this thread only please so we don't have multiple ones discussing the same thing, ta.

Will set up a similar one for any incoming players.

UPDATE:

Three year deal with "return ticket" arrangement.
Unspecified world record transfer fee.
(courtesy of @PWilkinsonWIG)

Official now - [urlhttp://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=8674&type=1[/url

Tomkins officially gone to NZ, 3 year deal

He will only stay for two....

Even as a Wire fan I'll be sad to see him go, players of his talent don't come along very often and our league will be poorer without him. Good luck to him over there and hopefully he'll be a massive success and Eng/GB will reap the benefits

"Return ticket"

Please tell me Wigan fans are not completely deluded.

He's gone. Whether or not he will come back to Wigan remains to be seen but the "return ticket" will have bugger all to do with it.

Probably the best option for him atm. 2 or 3 years in the NRL, test himself out there, then a lucrative RU contract (maybe).

Sticking to the facts, what IL has gone out of his way to say is that it was Sam's decision to leave, not his to sell.

IL comments make a mockery of what he trumpeted when he signed the new deal

Exactly. if he comes back it will be because it suits not because he has a return ticket.



Misses the RU world cup in that time. Still probably young enough to figure next time but hard to say. He'll be 27 by the time the next RU WC occurs so that may kill any interest.



So Sam broke his contract and IL was too weak to enforce the no talking to other clubs clause after he made such great play about it.

He could sign in time for the Lions tour of NZ though which is arguably a bigger event for British and Irish RU players than the world cup

It was a stupid thing for IL to say at the time (and complete nonsense as I posted), but he did, and lapped up the credit for it.

Now he must take the flak for that misplaced acclaim.

Why bother having players on contracts longer than a year Lenegan?

Sam here for at least 3 years - Complete lies!

3 years before he can speak to a Rugby Union club but hes on a 5 year contract?? WTF was all that about? Hes either on a 3 year contract or a 5 year contract!! which one is it? Answer is 2 years WTF?!?

Wasn't the whole point of the 5 year contract to maximise the selling price of Sam, who would have discussed his depature plans with his agent and the club 2 years ago?
Perhaps not, maybe Sam just decided to leave in April this year and that puny chairman with the moustache never thought that Sam would ever leave and didnt feel the need to enforce his contract.

Brilliant!