St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says his decision to overlook NSW State of Origin forward Tariq Sims for Saturday's NRL season opener is simply a fitness decision.
The off-contract Sims was a notable absentee from the Dragons squad to face the Warriors at Sunshine Coast Stadium, especially after Griffin revealed in September the 32-year-old was free to talk to rival clubs.
Asked about the call on the eve of the round one match, Griffin said it was simply a case of Sims not being physically ready to play and he still has plans for the backrower in 2022.
"It wasn't hard to overlook him," Griffin said.
"He's just not ready.
"He did his first full week of training this week after three calf tears.
"We just need to manage him and make sure when he does get on the field with us that it's for the right reasons and not because we're trying to rush him at the moment to win a game.
"The last thing we want is for him to snap his calf and be out for six weeks."
With Sims and George Burgess unavailable, Griffin has stuck with the same starting 13 from the Charity Shield win over South Sydney last month.
That means there are five recruits poised to make their NRL debuts for the Red V with Aaron Woods, Jaydn Su'A and Moses Suli starting while Mose Mbye and Francis Molo are on the bench.
Youngster Tyrell Sloan starts at fullback and Talatau Amone is partnering captain Ben Hunt in the halves.
Griffin expects his team to face a stern first-up challenge against the Warriors - who are starting another season from an Australian base, this time in southeast Queensland.
Nathan Brown's team is bolstered by the return of Shaun Johnson while Chanel Harris-Tevita will play fullback in place of the suspended Reece Walsh.
"With Shaun Johnson back there now to help (Kodi) Nikorima and (Addin) Fonua-Blake re-signed, they've got a real platform there," Griffin said.
"They're a classy team, they attack really well and I think they're on the way up as a club."
