Ex-Gold Coast Titans lock Ryan Simpkins reflects on his NRL career, reveals what’s next

Ryan Simpkins admits he is not exactly craving a chance to pull the boots back on despite seeing former Gold Coast Titans teammate Daniel Mortimer running around for his junior club Currumbin.

RYAN Simpkins admits he is not exactly craving a chance to pull the boots back on despite seeing former Gold Coast Titans teammate Daniel Mortimer running around for his junior club Currumbin.

Like many ex-NRL players, Mortimer is bringing a sense of high-profile professionalism to the Rugby League Gold Coast competition, as the likes of Ash Harrison and Dayne Weston did last year.

Simpkins though is enjoying focusing on life outside of football, having officially retired at the end of last season following a series of injuries including two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures.

“I haven’t really had anything to do with any other footy at this stage,” the 30-year-old father-of-two said.

“Pretty much since I stopped playing my body has felt heaps better.

Ryan Simpkins in action against Canberra. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“If I could go back to feeling how I was when I was 20, I would still be playing but as you get a bit older it becomes a lot harder.

“I was a bit surprised when I heard Morts was playing down there (at Currumbin). I have got no real desire to do it at the moment.

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“That could change I suppose in a year’s time or whatever but at the moment I’m pretty happy just not having that commitment of knowing you have got to train on this night and your weekends are committed to revolving around football.

“It has been nice to see what you want to do on the weekend and just do it. I’m enjoying it.”

Simpkins is currently working for his father Robert’s plumbing business while chipping away at finishing the Diploma of Hydraulic Services Design he started during his NRL career.

Ryan Simpkins’ 50th NRL match was cut short by a knee injury. Picture: Adam Head

“It’s basically the design of plumbing systems, so mostly in commercial, industrial and major residential fields. So it’s the design of sewer and storm water, your hot and cold water, gas, all of your plumbing systems,” he explained.

“In the future it might be something I get more into.”

IT SEEMED like the perfect fit: A Gold Coast lad coming back to represent his hometown in the NRL but Ryan Simpkins has revealed how it was a link-up that never really was in his sights.

The utility forward spent three years at Penrith before chasing a fresh start when he fell down the pecking order at the Panthers.

In his last year there in 2014, Simpkins did not crack first grade, instead playing under current Titans coach Garth Brennan in a premiership-winning NSW Cup team and earning the second-tier competition’s lock of the year honours.

Simpkins also played for Tweed Seagulls. Picture: SMP Images

“I was sort of open to looking if any other clubs were interested and that it might be a good time to move elsewhere,” he said.

“I actually had no desire to come back to the Coast. Me and my wife (Shayne) were pretty happy down in Sydney – it probably would have been my preference to stay at a Sydney club but it just happened to be the best option at the time.

“In hindsight it was a good move because we had just had our first kid and both of our parents are up here so it has made things a lot easier in that way.”

Age: 30

Position: Lock/hooker

NRL games: 52

NRL clubs: Penrith (2012-14); Gold Coast (2015-18)