Newcastle Knights’ Tariq Sims admits he has to clean up his act on the field
HIS judiciary record is so bad, Tariq Sims reckons he can’t even afford to look at a referee the wrong way or he will be in hot water.
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HIS judiciary record is so bad, Tariq Sims reckons he can’t even afford to look at a referee the wrong way or he will be in hot water.
Six suspensions in just five seasons totalling 15 weeks on the sideline would leave any player a little paranoid.
But despite freely admitting he will walk a tightrope with officials and needs to be “squeaky clean” for the rest of the season after being forced to sit out the opening five rounds of the premiership, the Newcastle Knights enforcer says he is not about to turn into a pussycat when he makes his return against Wests Tigers on Sunday.
“I’m going to bring as much controlled aggression as I can towards the Tigers,” Sims said when asked about his mindset going into his comeback game.
“It’s no secret I’m on a tightrope for the rest of the year. If I look at a referee wrong, I’ll get in trouble.
“So, I’ve got to make sure I go out there and be as squeaky clean as I can and make sure that I’m doing the job for the team.
“If I’m sitting on the sideline, I’m letting not only the club down but my teammates down.”
Sims is convinced his problems with the judiciary during his career have been for offences committed when he has been under fatigue during games.
It is why he has done a heap of work during his extended off-season on his tackling technique immediately after exhausting fitness sessions in a bid to condition himself for what may happen on the field.
“During fatigue, that’s when I make silly decisions,” he said.
“As long as I can stay on top of that and move forward with that, I can put it all behind me.”
Sims’ return can’t come quick enough for the battling Knights, who let a potential first win slip through their fingers last weekend through poor discipline against the Melbourne Storm.
“It’s obviously been tough (watching),” Sims said.
“You know what the boys go through day in day out but we just haven’t been able to string a consistent 80 minutes together.
“We’ve built on where we have come from but we really need to put games to bed and learn how to compete for 80 minutes.
“I’m just going to try and lead the boys attitude-wise. Try and compete for the full 80 minutes. I don’t like losing. It’s something that doesn’t really sit with me.
“As long as the boys are all keen and ready to rip in, I’ll do as much as I physically can for them.”
Originally published as Newcastle Knights’ Tariq Sims admits he has to clean up his act on the field
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