The Warriors have granted their English fullback Sam Tomkins an early release from the final year of his contract with the Auckland National Rugby League club, due to homesickness.
But the Warriors have also confirmed they've signed the Kiwis and Sydney Roosters star Roger Tuivasa-Scheck for the next three NRL seasons.
Sam Tomkins looks relieved after announcing his early exit Photo: Photosport
Tomkins will play out this season before leaving, and Tuivasa-Sheck will effectively be his replacement.
Warriors managing director Jim Doyle says the club reluctantly agreed to allow Tomkins to return to England a year before the end of the 26-year-old's contract in 2016.
Doyle says while Tomkins is still enjoying his time with the Warriors and living in New Zealand, he cited homesickness as an ongoing factor.
"He came here excited about testing himself in the NRL and also experiencing living in a new country but, in the end, Sam has found it too much of a challenge being away from home," says Doyle.
Kiwis and Sydney Roosters star Roger Tuivasa-Scheck Photo: Photosport
The managing director says the effective swap of Tuivasa-Sheck for Tomkins is the best outcome the club could have hoped for in the circumstances.
"One thing we all agreed was that there should be no negative impact on the club, when it comes to this, so really we wouldn't release Sam until such time as we had the club not going backwards," Doyle says.
Sam Tomkins (L), Jim Doyle and Andrew McFadden of the Warriors Photo: Photosport
"While we've been working with Sam, we've also been targeting Roger at the same time. Obviously with him agreeing to come on board from next year, it allows us then to allow Sam to go back home to England."
For his part, Tomkins, who's currently injured, is glad his struggles are out in the open and he can just get concentrate on getting back on the field.
"I'm probably a bit more of a homebird than I thought," Tomkins says. "It's pretty tough living on the other side of the world from all your family but the club's been brilliant about it."
"It's obviously been on my mind for a little while now so once it's out in the open and y'know, there's nothing to hide, it'll be a bit of a relief."
Tomkins says he's not sure if he'll return to Wigan or not but he hopes to have his next contract sorted within a few days.
Doyle says Tomkins is determined to finish his time with the Warriors in the best way he can, and he's working to recover from his knee injury as soon as possible so he can regain his spot in the team.
Jim Doyle (L) and Andrew McFadden at the Warriors media conference Photo: Photosport
Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden says making a decision now about Tomkins' future should prove beneficial.
"This has been hanging over Sam at different times and there's no doubt it has affected him," McFadden says.
"Now the way has been cleared and I'm sure he'll excel once again when he comes back from this injury."
While disappointed Tomkins won't be with the club for the full term of his original contract, McFadden's elated about snaring Roosters star Tuivasa-Sheck.
"He's a wonderful talent and a fantastic signing," McFadden says. "He's still only 21 and has already made a real mark in the NRL and also for the Kiwis. To be able to bring a New Zealander back to our club from Australia is massive for us."
Apia-born, Auckland-raised Tuivasa-Sheck, an Otahuhu College product, was in the Roosters' NRL premiership-winning side in 2013 and also played in the Rugby League World Cup final for the Kiwis the same year. He was named the 2013 Dally M Winger of the Year.
