Tomkins is eager to place another medal in Auckland-bound luggage

The worst-kept secret in rugby league was finally confirmed yesterday when the Wigan Warriors full-back announced he will be joining the NRL club at the end of the season on a three-year deal.

They are believed to have forked out around £700,000 for the England star – smashing the previous world record of £450,000 Wigan themselves paid Bradford Bulls for Stuart Fielden in 2006 – but Tomkins insists he is not yet contemplating life in Auckland.

He has his eyes on defeating champions Leeds in Friday’s 
Super League qualifying semi-final to set up the chance of a second Grand Final win and his first league and cup double.

“Going to Auckland is a huge step for me and my rugby league career but one I am really looking forward to,” said the reigning Man of Steel, who helped Wigan to a Challenge Cup final victory against Hull FC last month.

“Before that, though, I want to end my time with further success with Wigan as we aim for Grand Final glory and then with England as we focus on winning the World Cup on home soil.”

Wigan unveiled North Queensland Cowboys and ex-Queensland full-back Matty Bowen, 31, as a straight replacement on a 12-month contract, with an option for a second season, and they have an option to re-sign Tomkins after his spell in Auckland.

Crowd-pleaser Bowen is seen as a stop-gap signing to give Wigan’s crop of promising outside backs such as Ryan Hampshire and Lewis Tierney another 12 months to continue their development.

Hull FC will confirm the departure of head coach Peter Gentle today with assistant Lee Radford taking over

The RFL have set a date to finalise the game’s re-organisation.

Clubs have already agreed to reduce Super League from 14 to 12 teams from 2015 and the structure will be agreed at an extraordinary general meeting of the RFL Council on Wednesday, October 9.