 On 23 June 2013, the Sydney Morning Herald published news of Tomkins impending departure from Wigan to join the New Zealand Warriors of Australia's NRL competition. Further speculation regarding the move was sparked when Tomkins' mother was seen in Auckland in July looking at residential properties. On 24 September 2013, it was confirmed that Tomkins would join the Warriors on a three-year deal starting in 2014, signed for a world record fee.
