The Melbourne Storm have tabled an eighteen-month deal for out-of-favour Dragon Tariq Sims, who started the 2022 NRL season playing NSW Cup for the Sydney side after returning from injury late in the off-season.
The deal, which is being reported across the media, would see Sims take a significant pay cut. He is earning $800,000 a season with St. George Illawarra at the moment but has been told he will not be handed a renewal at the club. He has played 104 games in the Red V since moving south from Newcastle in 2016.
Sims met with Storm bosses Craig Bellamy and Frank Ponissi last week.
It is The Sporting Base’s understanding that, if Sims can secure a new deal — this offer at the Storm the most likely now — then the Dragons won’t stand in his way regarding an early release.
Melbourne has already been whacked with several injuries among its starting stars this season. Hooker-come-lock Brandon Smith went down with an injured hand minutes into the season opener, and captain Christian Welch (achilles) and winger George Jennings (ACL) joined him in the medical room over the next 78 minutes at CommBank Stadium.
Sims may not be an exact like-for-like on any of the injured players, but Bellamy rates the Blues forward very highly regardless; the holes in his 2022 NRL roster is just gravy for the short-burst signing.
The Sporting Base originally reported Sims was on the Roosters radar ahead of the season proper, but those talks fell apart as the 2022 campaign loomed. The tricolours were interested in the 32-year-old for depth, but with a host of strong forwards and second-rowers in particular already at the club, they decided to pass on the veteran.
If the deal does happen mid-season, it will be later in the year.
The Storm currently has around $100,000 to spare in their salary cap, meaning Sims won’t be able to join just yet. As the season ticks on, however, that $100k begins to cover more of the star’s salary for the remainder of the year. Think Tevita Pangai Junior at the Panthers in 2021.
Sims made his NRL debut in for the Cowboys in 2012, and has gone on to play 202 top-flight games. The Gerringong star has played six State of Origin games and a half-dozen for NSW Country.
