Wayne Bennett warns Sims: Origin hype won't make you play better

Don’t believe the hype. That is Wayne Bennett’s blunt message to Korbin Sims after headlines claiming the Brisbane forward has been earmarked for State of Origin.

Ex-Newcastle forward Sims has impressed since arriving as a last minute Broncos recruit this year.

So much so that Sims has sparked reports he is in line to fill the gaping hole in Queensland’s pack created by prop Matt Scott’s season-ending knee injury.

Much to Bennett’s annoyance.

Bennett believed no good could come from the stories pumping up the 25-year-old.

“No, I don’t. It is not going to make him play better, you might think it does but it doesn’t,” Bennett said ahead of Thursday night’s NRL clash in Melbourne.

Suffice to say Bennett won’t be letting the stories get to Sims’ head.

“The important part is that I don’t buy into it and make sure the players don’t,” Bennett said.

“It doesn’t do anyone any good if you start buying into it.

“We will make sure we don’t get carried away with ourselves.”

Ironically, Bennett himself inadvertently created the buzz around Sims.

He talked up his recruit barely two weeks ago, claiming Sims was “ready to show us what he’s really got” after six largely underwhelming NRL seasons at Newcastle.

“I’m very pleased that we managed to sign him – his best is yet to come,” Bennett told reporters.

“He’s had about four years of social loafing (at Newcastle) – I think he’s ready to show us what he’s really got.”

Sims’ profile then went to another level after he slotted straight into Brisbane’s starting front row, relegating Test forward Josh McGuire to lock.

But it seems Sims won’t be getting ahead of himself before the Queensland team is named for May’s Origin series opener.

Especially with Bennett around.