NRL contract news: Korbin Sims set to leave Dragons to join Hull

The Dragons will not stand in the way of Korbin Sims leaving the club as a new team confirmed they will sign him on long term deal.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 04: Bryce Cartwright of the Titans is tackled by Wade Graham of the Sharks during the round eight NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Cronulla Sharks at Cbus Super Stadium on July 04, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

ST George Illawarra and star forward Korbin Sims have split.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Sims has signed a three-year deal with English Super League giants, Hull Kingston Rovers, starting next season.

Sims, 28, still had another season remaining on his three-year Dragons contract.

Sources in Hull contacted The Daily Telegraph to confirm the deal would be announced on Friday.

St George Illawarra won’t stand in the way of Sims leaving.

Sims played the past two seasons at St George Illawarra but injuries have hampered his form and progress. He played 21 games in two seasons.

Despite having enjoyed his two-year stint at St George Illawarra, Sims was keen to accept the Hull KR deal and settle his long-term future.

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Korbin Sims will be leaving the Dragons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Had Sims remained at Saints next year, it was unlikely the club would have re-signed him beyond 2021.

Sources close to Hull KR claim Sims will give their forward pack some grunt from next season.

Hull KR has won just three of 17 games this season and is currently running last on the Super League competition table. The club is currently coached by Australian, Tony Smith, himself a former Dragons player.

Sims played for Newcastle and Brisbane before joining brother Tariq at St George Illawarra in 2018. Sims has played eight Test matches for Fiji.

Tariq Sims remains under contract at the club until the end of 2022. Brother Ashton is back in Australia after his former club, Toronto Wolfpack, collapsed during COVID.

Jack Bird is yet to start training at the Dragons.

The Dragons have returned to off-season training under new coach Anthony Griffin.

Griffin officially started on Tuesday morning along with new assistant coaches Peter Gentle and Matt Elliott, a former Dragons forwards

Given the Dragons bombed out again this year, the club is among the first to return to training in preparation for the 2021 season.

Recruit Jack Bird hasn’t commenced training yet as he continues rehabilitation on an injured knee.

NSW and Queensland stars Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax, Cam McInnes and Josh Kerr have been given leave time after the Origin series.

Manly, New Zealand Warriors, Wests Tigers, South Sydney and Canterbury have already returned to training. Queensland clubs North Queensland, Brisbane and Gold Coast kick-start their summer training programs on Monday.

Premiers Melbourne will be the last team back into training with the squad on leave until January 4. Runners-up Penrith are back on December 14.

Many club officials believe a shorter off-season will benefit the players late next season.

Bryce Cartwright joins the Eels

- Dave Riccio

In a career-defining move, Bryce Cartwright has agreed to terms on a contract with Parramatta for the 2021 season.

After a career to date stymied by injury and form setbacks, the former Penrith and Gold Coast forward has given himself 12 months to silence his critics and prove he’s an NRL quality footballer.

Bryce Cartwright has been given a chance of career resurrection at Parramatta.

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Cartwright’s contract is the process of being lodged with the NRL and it’s understood he has accepted a pay-cut close to $350,000 to join Parramatta.

The Eels hope to announce the signing in the coming days.

The former NSW City Origin forward has spent the past month training with sprint coach Roger Fabri in readiness for pre-season training with the Eels later in November.

The talented forward can cover back row, five-eighth and centre, but has struggled to nail down a consistent starting position in his rugby league career, largely due to chronic knee injuries.

The 25-year-old has scored 20 tries in 112 games for the Panthers and Titans since debuting in 2014 - and believes that under Eels coach Brad Arthur he can play his best football.

The Eels recruitment of Cartwright is in addition to recently announced signings Tom Opacic, Isaiah Papali’i and Joey Lussick for the 2021 season.

How teen’s Manly tenure came to an undignified end

- Dean Ritchie

The son of former NSW and Australian winger John Hopoate looks certain to leave Manly.

Albert Hopoate’s contract with the Sea Eagles expired when the new NRL season ticked over on November 1 and no deal has been reached for 2021.

Albert Hopoate is rthe lookout for a new club.

His profile has even been taken off Manly’s website.

It is unknown whether Hopoate has commenced contract talks with rival NRL clubs, and comes as the Sea Eagles attempt to secure the signing of Wests Tigers prop Josh Aloiai.

Hopoate, 19, was temporarily loaned to the New Zealand Warriors this year before returning to play NRL with Manly late in the season.

There had been suggestions Hopoate may join the Warriors full-time but new coach Nathan Brown instead opted to sign Bulldogs player Marcelo Montoya.

Hopoate – who has battled injuries throughout his young career — was initially loaned to the Warriors for four games but returned to Manly after just 10 days when a series of injuries rocked the Sea Eagles.

Manly Sea Eagles' NRL team page on the club's website. Where’s Hoppa?

He made his NRL debut in round 16 against Melbourne.

Hopoate’s form over the back end of the season – he played five games - was modest and it would appear unlikely he will be at Manly next season. He can play wing, centre and fullback.

John Hopoate took to social media over the Sea Eagles’ treatment of Albert when his son was originally loaned out to the Warriors.

“Good, we don’t EVER want to come back...,” John Hopoate captioned an Instagram post which screenshotted a video titled: ‘Hasler won’t recall Hopoate yet.’

Albert is hoping to continue the family legacy set by his father and two bothers — Will (Canterbury) and Jamil (Brisbane) — to forge careers in the NRL.

Like his brother Will before him, Albert told The Daily Telegraph in February of his desire to embark on a Mormon mission.

The Sea Eagles have signed Kieran Foran for the 2021 season.