TITAN PETE
12-06-13, 09:17 AM
By Ian Laybourn
AAP
Tue 11th June, 6:49pm
English rugby league superstar Sam Tomkins has played down his chances of joining an NRL club in 2014.
The Wigan fullback is tipped to join the current exodus of English players to the NRL, with the New Zealand Warriors favourites to capture his prized signature.
But Tomkins said on Monday that nothing has been decided.
"There are rumours everywhere," he said. "Everyone seems to have an opinion on where I'm going apart from me.
"I can tell you I've not signed any contract with anyone. I'm a Wigan player for the next couple of years as it stands and, if anything was to change, I'd be completely open about it.
"I am not hiding anything, I've not signed anywhere, it's speculation.
"From my point of view, I'm concentrating on playing for England and for Wigan and, if that was to change, I'd be the first to put my hand up and tell everyone."
Tomkins' England teammates Lee Mossop and Gareth Hock are the latest players to confirm moves to Australia, where the likes of Sam Burgess and James Graham are proving huge successes.
Former St Helens captain Graham, now in his second season with the Bulldogs, admits the departure of Tomkins would be a blow for Super League but says it could be good for England.
"It's catch 22 for England with the amount of players coming out here," Graham told reporters in Sydney.
"We need a strong Super League but players coming out gives them the experience of playing against top players for when they play the likes of Australia and New Zealand.
"We need the top players playing in Super League but Wigan have a lot of good young outside backs coming through and it would give an opportunity for them."
Wigan coach Shaun Wane is already preparing for life after Tomkins and gave a debut to his understudy Lewis Tierney, the 18-year-old son of former dual-code international Jason Robinson, in last Friday's 33-32 Super League win at Widnes.
AAP
Tue 11th June, 6:49pm
English rugby league superstar Sam Tomkins has played down his chances of joining an NRL club in 2014.
The Wigan fullback is tipped to join the current exodus of English players to the NRL, with the New Zealand Warriors favourites to capture his prized signature.
But Tomkins said on Monday that nothing has been decided.
"There are rumours everywhere," he said. "Everyone seems to have an opinion on where I'm going apart from me.
"I can tell you I've not signed any contract with anyone. I'm a Wigan player for the next couple of years as it stands and, if anything was to change, I'd be completely open about it.
"I am not hiding anything, I've not signed anywhere, it's speculation.
"From my point of view, I'm concentrating on playing for England and for Wigan and, if that was to change, I'd be the first to put my hand up and tell everyone."
Tomkins' England teammates Lee Mossop and Gareth Hock are the latest players to confirm moves to Australia, where the likes of Sam Burgess and James Graham are proving huge successes.
Former St Helens captain Graham, now in his second season with the Bulldogs, admits the departure of Tomkins would be a blow for Super League but says it could be good for England.
"It's catch 22 for England with the amount of players coming out here," Graham told reporters in Sydney.
"We need a strong Super League but players coming out gives them the experience of playing against top players for when they play the likes of Australia and New Zealand.
"We need the top players playing in Super League but Wigan have a lot of good young outside backs coming through and it would give an opportunity for them."
Wigan coach Shaun Wane is already preparing for life after Tomkins and gave a debut to his understudy Lewis Tierney, the 18-year-old son of former dual-code international Jason Robinson, in last Friday's 33-32 Super League win at Widnes.