The 25-year-old has a year to run on his $400,000-a-year contract, but the Knights are believed to be open to offloading him to free up valuable salary cap space.

Sims has spent four seasons in the Hunter but is reportedly keen to join an established club with genuine premiership aspirations.

The forward’s older brother, Ashton, spent three seasons in the Queensland capital from 2008-10.

And with the NRL season just two months away, the deal is expected to be completed soon.