St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has confirmed that NRL and NSW State of Origin star Tariq Sims has been told he can look elsewhere as the club is thought to be looking at a Penrith rival to fill his boots.
Sims may have played his last game for the Dragons after his season ended on a horrible note on Saturday night, taken to hospital after a head clash with South Sydney’s Jacob Host with a deep cut to his lip.
Still contracted until the end of next season, the NSW State of Origin second-rower approached the Dragons for an extension until the end of 2023.
The Dragons have decided they are not willing to commit that far down the track with the 31-year-old, opening the door for him to depart if he finds another suitor.
“He is a senior player and on contract next year. But that’s something for both him and his management to have a chat about,” Griffin said.
“His management had a chat to our management a couple of weeks ago.
“He is contracted to us until the end of next year. As I understand it at the moment they have given him permission to look around.
“Nothing is ever off the table, it was just a conversation that happened a few weeks ago.”
Triple M reported on Saturday that the latest development is a pointer the Dragons will try to sign Panthers’ Viliame Kikau, who is off-contract at the end of 2022.
“I know Hook suggested they weren’t interested but people have told me they will be when the time comes,” journalist Brent Read said on Triple M.
“November 1 they can actually speak to Viliame Kikau and I’d imagine he is right at the top of their list of players if Tariq goes that they can make an immediate play for.
“They won’t be the only club. There’ll be a handful of clubs going hard at Viliame and Penrith have a fight on their hands to keep him. That Tariq Sims situation will be a pointer that the Dragons will have a red-hot go at Viliame Kikau.”
Griffin’s admission came after the Dragons’ sorry second half to the season was finally put to rest with the 20-16 loss on Saturday night.
Sat seventh headed into their bye, the Dragons lost eight straight to spiral down the ladder after Paul Vaughan’s infamous party.
Sims was one of those not to attend the July get-together as he prepared to enter Origin camp.
Saturday’s defeat took the losing streak to the longest in the joint-venture’s history.
Griffin admitted the team only had themselves to blame for the way they had fallen away, while also pointing to the absence of the injured Ben Hunt and Andrew McCullough.
Meanwhile, he backed Corey Norman to find another NRL contract after playing his last game for the club.
Griffin coached Norman early on at the Broncos, and kept him in the Dragons’ starting side even as St George Illawarra’s season fell by the wayside.
“I can’t fault his effort off the field,” Griffin said.
“He is a bit of a polarising figure Corey, everyone has an opinion. I think he would do a job somewhere else. He still has something to offer.
“I know he has a few opportunities over in England and there are a couple of clubs having a look at him here.
“I certainly think he has another year or two in him.”
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Saab was clearly unhappy at the club and wanted out it was the right move to release him. Garrick was an unknown prospect so they club made a choice. He's excelled at a strong club, as has Saab. They would not be playing as well at the Dragons.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Saab at Manly is a work in progress -i.e. he is visibly improving week by week. Still very young, objectively going forward, he is going to be a VERY GOOD and valuable player for Manly.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Flanno or Bennett, otherwise may as well stick with Hook. The rest are untried and/or rubbish
Short Memory
Guest
Ever heard the saying about birds in the bush etc...?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well, that's true but that was in the old Saints days when the culture was different. In the days since merger Old Boys don't have a good record.
Tony
Roar Guru
I agree. I wouldn't extend his contract until we see what he produces next year. Very hot and cold player in my opinion, and hasn't really stood out after origin.
KenW
Roar Rookie
I don't know, Kearney, Provan & Bath went alright with the coaching role...
KenW
Roar Rookie
At the risk of sounding positive, I think you're ignoring the good parts and focussing on the bad - which admittedly is easy to do when there's no finals for Saints next week but I'm going to have a go at the other perspective.... I'm no fan of the McGuire signing - just don't get it, but the rest of those guys aren't really recruitment failures. They were cheapies, and have generally been good value. McCullough was strong, Alvaro a useful bench forward, even Beale in the early part of his stint brought needed experience in a backline full of single-gamers for the cost of a match-day pie (although his later run in the centres has been a disaster). Bird was also cheap but would have been decent even at fair price. Secondly I would say the recruitment for next year has some upside. I'm not sure what the plan is with Mbye but most of the big moves have been in the pack where they are most needed (geez Moose has been our starting prop for the last month!). Su'a & Molo are genuine good additions that will go straight to the starting side. Burgess is more of a wildcard but suspect we've picked him up pretty cheap so maybe he can add something off the bench. Sims is a tough one, there's no doubt he'll be starting next season if he's still there, but I also understand that you just can't make everyone happy. Locking him in for another 3 years would be a risk and has a potential opportunity cost elsewhere.
Tony
Roar Guru
Why not? They were both development players for quite a while, and certainly displayed enough talent to persist with. Saab scored 4 tries in his 7 first grade games and had to be the fastest player in the club at the time he was let go. Couldn't they see his potential? Garrick was let go in 2018 and then played every game for Manly in 2019 in a year in which they finished 6th. What did Manly see in Garrick that the Dragons couldn't see week in week out? It's up to guys like Millward to identify and retain talent, obviously a task way beyond his abilities.
Muzz
Guest
You can only assume that it's about money and not so much his performance. Sims still has plenty to offer.
Muzz
Guest
JR will be the Roosters new assistant coach for the next 3 seasons.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Sims is the epitome of built like Tarzan runs like Jane. With his physique he shoild be one of the leading backrowers in the competition but runs at half pace and is prone to getting suspended. I fully understand and support the club's decision to let him go
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Saab had played 2 games in a 2 seasons and he still has not much to offer apart from speed. Defensively he's terrible. Garrick hadn't even played first grade when left so you can't judge the club on letting those two go
Pedro
Guest
It’s the white shorts! We definitely won’t being seeing Latrell go the saints anytime soon.
Tony
Roar Guru
Lucky for him he's not a racehorse
Paul Monaro
Roar Rookie
How many different coaches do we have to get fed up with? I wouldn't be going after someone that has the potential to be a good coach. Many with great potential or who have been recommended by other good coaches have turned out not to be up to it. We need a coach with proven performance and who can attract the big-name players. Flanno is the only one currently available.
Paul
Roar Guru
He was fined for his efforts OFF the field and more than once I thought Norman should have been fined for his efforts ON the field.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
So the Dragons will sign Beale and Maquire both well past their used by date, but won’t extend Sims’ contract - one of the few players who has a real dig. A current rep player, didn’t attend the famous BBQ and from what I hear, a great leader on and off the field. Watch the Broncos or Souths snap him up.
Tony
Roar Guru
Effort off the field? Give us a break Hook. How about his effort ON the field?
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing: