He may only be 24, but Korbin Sims is ready to take on a leadership role at the Newcastle Knights in 2016 – much as his big brothers Ashton and Tariq have done at NRL level.
Evidenced by Ashton's influence at the Cowboys and more recently at Super League outfit Warrington Wolves and Tariq's immediate impact at the Knights upon joining them last year, leadership has become a natural Sims trait and one that Korbin is ready to embrace.
"It's nothing that we work at. It just comes to us," Korbin, the youngest of the three, told NRL.com.
"We don't try and overplay our hand and if someone was to ask for our advice then we'll give it. If not, then we try to educate and learn at the same time."
Last year was a massive one for Sims – he was named the Knights' members Player of the Year and was selected in the Maroons squad for State of Origin II – but he's keen to lift another level this season.
With Jeremy Smith currently the only Knights player over the age of 30, Sims is ready to take on extra responsibility as a team leader and advised that his younger teammates best be learning on the run.
"I always am [looking to be leader]. I like taking on a bit more of a front-foot role and that's why when I was playing front row last year it was a path I was looking to take. You couldn't take a backwards step," Sims said.
"With Jeremy being the old bull at the club, we get along great and have been for a long time now, and just watching him over the past couple of years and how he conducts himself is always handy.
"If there's anything our senior members of the squad can do to help the younger members it helps tremendously.
"I know I had it when [Willie] Mason and Beau Scott were here and older heads like Danny Buderus were still running around – we were a squad full of knowledge.
"So if you're a young lad in these ranks and you don't try to pick their brains then you're doing something wrong."
Having just turned 24 and after becoming a first time father in November, Sims's perceptions have shifted this off-season – something he'll use to keep himself motivated for the remainder of his career.
"Family has always come first for me but now I've started a family of my own, it's my own family that comes first. I had a little boy and my partner and I were very, very thrilled that he came into the world safely," Sims said.
"We're just trying to do our best to learn on the run and I'm sure we'll do fine. Others have done well with their kids in the past, like Ashton has three kids and Tariq has one kid and one on the way and now I have a child of my own.
"It puts a new perspective on life, and he comes first now."
Sims also gave Knights coach Nathan Brown a glowing appraisal in what's been his first NRL pre-season since 2008.
"He's a good dude. He's a good people person and very knowledgeable. He's been around the game for a long time now," Sims said.
"Any chance you can get a coach of his calibre to come to a club full of history like Newcastle, and with him being a passionate man, is exciting.
"Those two traits fall straight into one another and he's very passionate about doing everything right which explains why he rides us very hard at training."
