Sims vows to fix the 'unacceptable' parts of game

Dragons forward Korbin Sims ticked the redemption box, and now has his sights set on eradicating the "unacceptable" areas in his game after a triumphant return to Suncorp Stadium against his former club.

The 27-year-old walked out of the stadium on Thursday night after scoring a crucial try in the 25-24 win over the Brisbane Broncos all smiles, contrasting with the disconsolate figure he cut after the 48-18 loss to St George Illawarra in his last game for Brisbane in 2018.

Nothing went right for Sims in that semi-final defeat last September and to add insult to his injured pride he received a two-match suspension on the back of it for a dangerous tackle, so when he sang the team song on Thursday night for the first time with the Dragons it was also a redemption song.

Sims is far from satisfied with that and knows coach Paul McGregor does not want a repeat of the several penalties he gave away.

"[McGregor] gave me a clear focus of what I needed to do in the game and I did it the best that I could, but there are a fair few areas I need to improve on. I don't think I played well or to my own standards but you've got to start somewhere," Sims said after the win.

"I gave away two or three penalties which was unacceptable. There was a dropped ball close to the line and a stray pass here or there that I am not happy about.

"I felt like I played a lot better than I did in my last game here at Suncorp. That was a very emotional game for me that last one, obviously being my last one for the Brisbane Broncos, and I didn't play to my potential in that game.

"It is nice to come out, obviously in the opposite side, and play well. It is good for the Dragons supporters to see.

"I spoke to my brother Tariq about spending time on the sideline at the start of the year because he's done it for two years in a row with suspension. I knew I had to bide my time and keep training well. Mary showed me a bit of faith by putting me straight back in the 17 and there are plenty of good things to come."

McGregor was impressed with the energy and impact of Sims and, while not pleased with the penalties, understood why he was wound up.

"It is always the way when you play against your old team. You want to play with passion and you want to make it personal," McGregor said.

"You've just got to handle the emotion side of it. Korbin did some really good things and unfortunately there was a couple of penalties that we need to clean up, but that is collectively with all of us."

So impressed was Dragons prop Paul Vaughan with Sims in his first game for the Red V that he sought him out after the game to tell him he was "a great inclusion".

"I sat down with Korbin after the game and had a beer with him, and I told him that his leg speed and powerful running is really going to help us this season, so I am looking forward to getting a nice combination with Korbin whether he is off the bench or starting," Vaughan told NRL.com.