SYDNEY, 03 JUNE 2021 (NEWSWIRE) – Tariq Sims is back in blue!
The St George Illawarra forward has been rewarded for his strong start to the season with selection in the NSW team to play Queensland on June 9.
Ironically, the 31-year-old returned from a one-game suspension in the Dragons 34-18 loss to the Wests Tigers on Friday night. He missed the 2019 Origin decider after failing in a bid to have a dangerous contact citing overturned.
The match was to be his third NSW appearance and he didn’t feature in last year’s series due to poor form.
But the 2019-Sims is back and has been the one constant for the under-manned Dragons which slumped to their third straight loss, and sixth from their past seven NRL games, on Friday.
Injury to former teammate Tyson Frizell left NSW short on edge backrowers giving Sims and Cameron Murray the chance to line-up for the Blues.
With Murray likely to spend some time in the middle of the field, Sims could spend 80-minutes on his favoured left edge marking Felise Kaufusi.
“I’m really happy with the squad we’ve announced to face the Maroons for the opening game of the series,” Blues coach Brad Fittler said.
“We’ve got a good mix of players from in-form teams and players who have worn the NSW Blues jumper with distinction in the past and never let their state down.”
Sims will be unavailable for the Dragons when they face Brisbane at home on Thursday night.
Coach Anthony Griffin will be sweating on the availability of halfback Ben Hunt who is likely to be part of an extended Queensland squad as he looks to patch together a win to keep them inside the top eight.
The Dragons are expected to be without key attacking stars Zac Lomax (thumb) and Matt Dufty (shoulder) again in round 13, while Josh McGuire and Tyrell Fuimaono are suspended until round 16.
Griffin was “bitterly disappointed” with their performance on Friday night despite being down on troops.
The inconsistent Broncos head south without Payne Haas (Origin) and off the back of another large defeat from Melbourne. They will be buoyed by their last visit to Sydney when they beat the Roosters and will be boosted by the return of Tyson Gamble, Matt Lodge and Jordan Riki.
