As of 2015 Townsville will no longer be Sims city, with the Cowboys confirming brothers Ashton and Tariq will both be leaving the club at the end of the year.
29-year-old prop Ashton, who captained Fiji Bati earlier this year, has agreed to a two-year deal with English Super League club Warrington Wolves, while North Queensland confirmed younger brother Tariq would also be leaving the club after four years of service via Twitter on Tuesday.
Tariq Sims will be leaving us at the end of this season after 4 years with NQ. We wish him all the best at his new club. #ridemcowboys
— NQ Cowboys (@nthqldcowboys) July 1, 2014Tariq, who was named as NSW 18th man in 2012 before suffering two broken legs in as many seasons, has been rumoured to be joining the youngest of the Sims trio, 22-year-old Korbin, at Newcastle next season, though there has been no confirmation of the move as yet.
The expected arrival of one of the game's most promising young forwards at the Knights is however a possible indicator head coach Wayne Bennett, whose future with the club has been clouded since the departure of previous owners Hunter Sports Group, is a better chance of staying with Newcastle beyond the 2014 season.
Between them, the two eldest Sims brothers have played 142 games for North Queensland since joining the club four years ago, while Ashton has also racked up over 200 NRL appearances in 12 seasons at the Dragons, Broncos and Cowboys.
The eldest Sims said he was excited at the prospect of continuing his career with the Wolves, who have finished runners up in the Super League competition for the past two seasons.
"I'm really looking forward to a new challenge at a great club," said Sims.
"The time is right for my family and me to experience something new and we are really looking forward to this adventure. I have spoken to (Wolves coach) Tony Smith and he has told me much about the club, its culture and its professionalism.
"While my focus remains on helping the North Queensland Cowboys to the semi-finals and hopefully a premiership, I'm also excited about what awaits me overseas next year."
Offsetting the news of the Sims' brothers departure somewhat is the retention of hooker Rory Kostjasyn, who has extended his current contract by two years and will remain with the club until the end of the 2016 season.
