Why the New Zealand Warriors paid huge money for English star Sam Tomkins

WEIGHING in at less than 80kg, Sam Tomkins is hardly going to strike fear into NRL opponents with his size. But wait till they see him run.

UPDATE: STANDING under six-foot and weighing in at less than 80kg, Sam Tomkins is hardly going to strike fear into NRL opponents with his size.

But wait till they see him run.

Electric speed with long, bounding strides. A wicked step and intuitive ability to see a hole and explode through it.

It explains why the New Zealand Warriors have forked out a record transfer fee of $1.2 million for the 24-year-old super talent from Wigan.

Initially a half before switching to fullback under the watch of now-Souths coach Michael Maguire at Wigan, Tomkins has certainly made the most of his opportunity to roam in open space.

His try-scoring strike rate is phenomenal: 144 in 150 games for Wigan and 19 in 19 for England.

Right from the start, it was clear the kid was special.

In 2008, aged just 19, Tomkins became the first player in rugby league history to score five tries on his first-grade debut - and he had three within the first 12 minutes. Wigan won the game 106–8.

He would go on to score a hat-trick on his England debut against Wales.

With his background as a playmaker, Tomkins is as dangerous an attacking threat making a kick return from deep as he is picking the ball up out of dummy-half a metre from the line.

League legend Steve Menzies, who has been winding down his career in the Super League, expects Tomkins to adapt quickly to the NRL.

"He's a great player so I’m really keen to see how he goes," Menzies said.

"I think he’ll go well."

But there is an aspect of Tomkins' game the Warriors will be eager to address.

A couple of years ago, Tomkins gave a two-fingered salute to Leeds fans at Wembley and the situation snowballed to the point where opposition fans around the Super League singled him out as a player they love to hate.

Some see him as niggly and arrogant, but others argue all the booing and jeering is nothing but a desperate bid to put off one of the brightest talents in the game.

Tomkins intends to give home fans one last chance to see him before his move by playing for England in the British-based World Cup in October and November.

"For me this is about taking another step up in my career by testing myself in the NRL. It has always been a goal of mine and now it's going to happen," Tomkins said.

"I'm really grateful to Wigan for helping to make this possible by giving me an early release. I love the club and the people here and always will, but this is the next big step for me.

"As far as Super League goes, I don't want to play for anybody else. If I do come back to it, hopefully I'll be here playing at the DW (Stadium)."