All bets are off - Wigan superstar Sam Tomkins will be a Warrior according to British bookmaker Victor Chandler.
The UK betting agency has stopped taking bets on which club the Super League's "Man of Steel" will move to next year.
The fullback has been linked with a number of NRL clubs for next season, including the Titans, Roosters and Dragons but the bookmaker made the Warriors red-hot favourite at $1.57.
Then, after just a few days of money pouring in on New Zealand getting Tompkins, the betting company closed the book, accepting no more bets.
Speculation that Tomkins will be joining the Warriors next season intensified after newspaper Wigan Today reported that his mother had recently made a trip to New Zealand, while his former team-mate Thomas Leuluai told Fairfax Media last week that Tomkins has had phone conversations with him about what it would be like to join the club.
The Titans seem to be the main rivals to the Warriors for the fullback's services. Their CEO, David May, has been in England to meet Tomkins' representatives.
Speculation about Tomkins coming to the NRL has been intense in both hemispheres for the past month and Wigan Today reported last week that Kevin Locke could be swapped with Tomkins to sweeten the deal.
However, Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah rubbished that suggestion.
"We have never discussed anything like that," he said. "We haven't had that discussion with Kevin or anyone about it. Certainly Kevin is seen as a big part of the club going forward."
In Tomkins' recent column in the Manchester Evening News he said he was aware of news stories about him moving Down Under, but was focused on the rest of the season with Wigan.
"My focus right now is firmly on helping Wigan win trophies," he said.
"I am obviously aware of the stories circulating predicting that I could soon end up playing in the NRL but I'm not going to be drawn on this.
"I admit, a lot of our top players are looking to play in Australia.
"A rugby league playing career lasts between 10 and 12 years, so any opportunities and offers have to be considered.
"This is not a 40-year career that can see you through a lengthy working life.
"We possibly have some teams who can compete with their Australian counterparts but the NRL is a better standard. The salary cap is higher in the Australian game and players are bound to be targeted."
Negotiations between Tomkins' management and the Warriors are continuing but it is clearly not having an adverse affect on the player.
Last weekend he scored two tries in Wigan's win over Salford and has amassed 18 tries over his last nine games for the club.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/8662453/Sam-Tomkins-a-Warrior-according-to-bookies