New Zealand Warriors to unleash UK star Sam Tomkins at Auckland Nines Sam Tomkins in action for England. EXCITEMENT machine Sam Tomkins will make his debut with new club the Warriors at next month's Auckland Nines. Coach Matt Elliott confirmed the star recruit will be a key member in the Warriors' bid to claim the inaugural tournament, which runs February 15 and 16 at Eden Park. "Sam will be playing Nines," Elliott told reporters in New Zealand. We made a commitment as an organisation to do really well in the Nines. We also need to look at who's best suited for it and Sam certainly falls into that category. The decision means the flying fullback misses the chance to turn out for the Warriors against his former club Wigan in Hamilton on February 12. Wigan is travelling to the southern hemisphere for the World Club Challenge against the Roosters on February 22, and had arranged the Warriors match as a warm-up. Due to the closeness of the match with the Nines tournament, Elliott is fielding completely different teams. Tomkins, 24, scored 144 tries in 151 games for Wigan and a match against his old teammates would have made for an intriguing Warriors debut. "I can see the interest in that, but our real key is to do well in the NRL season and we'd like to have a dip at the Nines as well," Elliott said. Guys playing in the Nines certainly won't be playing in the Wigan trial because it's only a few days before.