Wilkins, who has been linked to a move north to the Central Pulse and a reunion with her former mentor, Pulse coach Robyn Broughton, declined to be interviewed by the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
However, in a text message the Steel's star shooter said she was "pretty disappointed" with the story "but would rather take a back seat".
"I know what is the true facts and that's what matters."
Yesterday, the Southland Times reported it understood Wilkins had been offered in excess of $100,000 but the Pulse had improved on the offer and shapes as the favourite to secure the former Silver Fern's signature for the 2013 season.
Bannister would not be drawn on the rumours when asked directly if the Steel had offered Wilkins that sort of money.
"Look mate, player negotiations are obviously between the franchise and the player," he said.
"It is not for me to comment on how much we are paying individual players. I don't think that would be very professional on my part... and I'm not going to enter into a discussion or release figures."
Broughton was also reluctant to talk on the record when contacted for comment.
As to whether the Pulse was chasing Wilkins' services for 2013, Broughton said, "I'd say everybody will be".
The five New Zealand ANZ Championship franchises have until October 8 to provide Netball New Zealand with their first 10 contracted players.
Bannister said the Steel had made good progress firming up the playing roster.
"We are pretty close to finalising our 10," Bannister said.
"There has been a lot of discussion taking place and we are confident that, by the eighth, we'll have 10 players that will go a long way in establishing us better for 2013."
It is netball's worst-kept secret and might not have been made public yet, but the salary cap is expected to rise from $300,000 to $380,000 in 2013.
It is not the big increase it appears as the previous salary cap did not include a discretionary payment of $50,000 the franchises were able to use to bump up a player's overall salary package.
Other expected changes include lifting the cap on the size of a squad from 12 to 14 players. It will be up to each franchise whether it opts to contract the additional two players and all the players will have to fit under the new salary cap.
The minimum contract payment is also set to rise from $12,000 to $15,000 but only if a franchise elects to keep 12 players on the books.
It is understood the final four players in the squad must earn a minimum of $30,000 among them with the individual minimum set at just $3000.
However, the players at that end would be very much development players and the salary would be secondary to the experience of training with an ANZ Championship franchise.
