Tariq Sims wants the sheer ecstasy he felt playing for NSW
Tariq Sims has only played 34 minutes of one State of Origin game for NSW. But the St George Illawarra backrower can’t forget that “numbness” that made him feel invincible for the Blues.
Dragons enforcer Tariq Sims calls it his state of ecstasy. A feeling of numbness where there is no sound or sense of pain.
Sims says he's spent the past 12 months chasing the feeling he experienced in his first and only State of Origin match for NSW last year.
The St George Illawarra backrower has one final shot at impressing NSW coach Brad Fittler against Manly at Brookvale Oval this afternoon.
Sims played 34 minutes off the interchange bench in game three last year.
“The one thing I remember is feeling numb. I couldn't feel anything,” Sims said of his Origin experience.
“It was weird. You get excited for NRL games, but for Origin it was a numb feeling.
“You obviously get fatigued and when I came on we ended up doing 10 minutes of tackling, but I remember when we were tackling, I remember it not hurting.
“Usually you feel bumps and bruises, elbows and shoulders, hips and knees.
“But when I got out there, even the first hit-up off the kick-off for the second-half, I didn't feel anything and it was a big contact.
“It was just one of those things, mentally and physically, you get so up for it, that your body is just ready.
“Off the kick-off you can hear yourself yelling to your halfback what side you’re going to be on (to receive the ball) — but as soon as that ball goes up, you can't hear anything.
“It's something that once you get a taste for it, you want to get back out there.
“I want to feel that feeling again. I want to be immersed in that bubble that is State of Origin, that when you go into camp you've got your family, your friends and just your teammates.
“To be able to experience that and be involved in such a high quality, high expectation, high scrutiny, pressure-cooker, I loved it.’’
Renowned for his fearless heavy hitting and bullish edge-play carries, Sims was back to his dominant best against Canterbury last Monday, producing 137 metres, five tackle busts and two line breaks.
He’s aware that a team performance against the Sea Eagles will aid his hopes of earning an Origin re-call by Fittler on Sunday night.
“The desire to play for NSW again has always been huge for me,’’ Sims said.
“Being 18th man the first two games (of the 2018 series) and finally getting my crack was pure ecstasy for me.
“It was unbelievable.
“It was a lead-up of, supporting the Blues through a really tough period, to finally get my crack in the arena that it was, Suncorp Stadium against the Maroons, to finally get your crack at it, that'’ every kid’s dream.
“That desire hasn’t wavered at all. I’m really trying to get back in the sky blue squad to start of with — and then a jersey.
“That’s a huge priority for me and one I’m desperate to be a part of.”
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