Tariq Sims

Tariq Sims
Sims playing for the Broncos in 2009.
Personal information
Born 9 February 1990
Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia
Height 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 107 kg (16 st 12 lb)
Playing information
Position Second-row, Lock, Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–14 North Queensland 71 16 0 0 64
2015– Newcastle Knights 4 0 0 0 0
Total 75 16 0 0 64
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–14 Country Origin 3 2 0 0 8
2013 Fiji 5 1 0 0 4
Source: Rugby League Project

Tariq Sims (born 9 February 1990) is a Fijian Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. He primarily plays second-row, lock and prop.[1]

Early career

Sims played junior football in his home town of Gerringong, New South Wales, before moving to Queensland, where he played in the NYC for the Brisbane Broncos from 2008 to 2010. He was initially a winger, but was told by the Broncos to put on weight and turned into a forward.[2] His brothers Korbin and Ashton both played with him at the Broncos at the same time, Ashton was a member of the first-grade squad, while Korbin played NYC with him. Tariq was the 2010 Toyota Cup season's player of the year, but he left the Broncos without playing a first-grade match. He and Ashton joined the North Queensland Cowboys for the 2011 season. Upon leaving the Broncos, he praised the club's youth system for his development as a player, saying that he was leaving only to get the opportunity to play first-grade football.[3]

Professional playing career

Sims made his NRL debut in the second round of the 2011 season, against the Newcastle Knights. His season ended in August, when he broke his leg in a match against the Cronulla Sharks.[4] Despite his curtailed season, he was a finalist in the best rookie and best second-rower categories of the Dally M Awards.[5] During the year, he was invited to join the New South Wales State of Origin team during training.[6] After the season, he was shortlisted for the Rugby League International Federation's Second Rower of the Year award.[7]

Round 5 2012, Sims returned from a broken leg in North Queenslands 22-6 victory over the Canberra Raiders, Sims came off the bench in the second half and put in a memorable performance, performing a big hit on Canberra big man Tom Learoyd-Lahrs in his first few minutes on the field. Sims soon returned to the Cowboys starting line-up.

A few weeks later Sims made his representative debut for Country in the annual City Versus Country origin match. Sims came from the bench in Country's victory over City, scoring two tries in the process.

Just seven NRL matches into his comeback from a broken leg, playing against Penrith in Round 11, attempting to save a try Sims was involved in a freak accident with Penrith back rower Cameron Ciraldo which ended with Sims breaking his leg for a second time in the space of a year and in exactly the same spot as the previous break. The Cowboys went on to win the match with Tariq's brother Ashton scoring the match winning try in the dying minutes of the game.

Sims had a successful surgery which involved a steel rod being inserted into his leg to help with the healing process and to stop another break. Sims returned to full contact training the week of the Cowboys controversial Semi-Final loss to Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Sims made his second return from injury in a 28-24 trial victory over his former club Brisbane Broncos on 4 February 2013. Sims started the match in the second row and had three stints in the game. Impressing coaching staff and full of confidence.

On 4 July 2014, Sims signed a 2-year contract with the Newcastle Knights starting in 2015, where he would join his younger brother Korbin Sims.[8]

International Career

Qualifying through his mother, Sims was selected in the Fiji squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup alongside his brothers, Ashton and Korbin. [9] His elder sister Ruan Sims played for the Australian women's team in 2010.[10]

Personal life

Sims is the older brother of fellow Newcastle Knights player Korbin Sims and younger brother of Warrington Wolves player Ashton Sims.[11] His elder sister Ruan Sims played for the Australian women's team in 2010.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Tariq Sims: Player profile". www.cowboys.com.au. North Queensland Cowboys. Archived from the original on 30 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Badel, Peter (12 August 2011). "Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Griffin gave Tariq Sims the advice that has helped make him a star". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  3. ↑ McDonald, Margie (12 August 2011). "Tariq Sims tells Darren Lockyer to watch out". The Australian. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Badel, Peter (28 August 2011). "Cowboys' Tariq Sims out for NRL season after breaking leg in win over Sharks". The Sunday Mail (Brisbane). Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Cowboy of the Year – our main contenders". www.cowboys.com.au. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Badel, Peter (23 August 2011). "Tariq Sims' revolutionary weight-gain diet". Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Marshall vying for second Golden Boot". TVNZ. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "Knights sign Tariq Sims". Newcastle Knights. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  9. ↑ http://fijilive.com/sports/news/2013/09/civoniceva-wes-naiqama-to-lead-fiji-bati/32752.Fijilive
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brad Walter (The Sydney Morning Herald) (17 May 2013). "Sims sister Ruan leading way as female participation swells". Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  11. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/ashton-tariq-and-korbin-sims-will-play-for-fiji-in-this-years-world-cup/story-fniabn55-1226690259957

External links