amazing things in the NRL Women’s
competition as an integral part of the
Sydney Roosters, while younger sister
Canecia ‘CJ’ is giving her a run for her
money, going great guns since making the
switch from gridiron to NRLW, signing with
the Tweed Heads Seagulls in January.
Having grown up in the small, close-knit
coastal town of Gerringong, about a 40-
minute drive south of Wollongong, there
has been much fanfare about the Sims
boys returning to their roots – something
Tariq is immensely proud of.
“Two local boys coming back and playing
for their local team is pretty exiting,” he says,
reminiscing: “Growing up in Gerringong,
we were a very sporty, very competitive
family. In the summertime we played
cricket in the backyard and in the winter
we played footy – rugby league on
Saturday and rugby union on Sunday.
It was just one of those things.”
He also acknowledges the pressure
that he and Korbin moving home takes
off his mum: “When Ashton and I were
playing for North Queensland and Korbin
was at Newcastle, there was a lot of travel
for Mum, but she stretched herself out
pretty well and tried to get to as many
games as she could. Now it definitely
will make life easier.”
Donning the ‘Red V’ as he took to the
field with his new team this year was
a memorable moment for Korbin, as
was the chance to run out of the tunnel
NRL
alongside his big brother – for the first
time since they played together at the
Knights early in his career.
“I don’t really get nervous anymore; I’m
more excited about putting on a new strip
and having the opportunity to line up
alongside my brother,” he explains. “I love
it down here. The opportunity the Dragons
have given me for the next three years
is very exciting. I’m looking forward to
repaying them on the field. They’ve been
really good as a club so far – it’s a very
proud organisation, so it’s an exciting time.”
While Korbin’s season got off to a slow
and frustrating start, sidelined for the first
two rounds due to an overheld suspension,
he’s determined to put it behind him.
“I have to move past it. I have to put
my best foot forward and fight for one
of those 17 spots [in the line-up],” he tells
“Two local boys
coming back and
playing for their
local team is
pretty exciting”
- Tariq Sims
Korbin (left) and Tariq were
stoked to take the field as
Dragons teammates this year48 Foxtel MAY