Cronulla make history by signing Ruan Sims to an official Sharks playing contract

WHAT’S THE BUZZ PART 1: Ruan Sims has created history by signing an official playing contract with the Cronulla Sharks.

Ruan Sims has become the first woman to sign a playing contract with an NRL club.

THE CRONULLA Sharks rewrote history again last week when they became the first club to sign a woman to an NRL playing contract.

In the ultimate glass ceiling-smashing rugby league move, the fairytale NRL premiership winners handed female footy star Ruan Sims, 34, an official Sharks playing contract — officially making her part of the game’s best team.

”It is the same contract the male players have,” said Sharks Group GM Tim Thorne. ”It is part of our commitment to show we are serious about developing women rugby league

players.”

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Sims — hailing from the famous league family which has produced NRL stars Ashton, Tariq and Korbin — will play for the Women’s Sharks 9s team, which debuted this year in a clash against the St George Illawarra Dragons.

The Australian and NSW women’s captain will train alongside NRL stars, including Paul Gallen and James Maloney.

”It is very exciting and unprecedented work that the Sharks are doing,” said Sims.

”Being the first woman to sign a contract is an incredible achievement and I didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime. It is actually a player contract not an ambassador contract. That is really exciting.

Sims is one of the most accomplished women’s players of all time.

“I won’t be playing against the men but I will get access to the same facilities and medical programs as them. In fact we will have everything provided to us that the men get and be recognised as professional female rugby league athletes.”

Ruan’s brothers will find out about their sister’s NRL contract on Sunday.

”I haven’t even been able to tell my brothers yet because it has been confidential,” Sims said. “But I know they will be happy because they all think women deserve to be considered professionals and be contracted.”

ROOSTERS CHASING THE NEXT BOLT

HE Roosters could sign the next Usain Bolt as the club has forged a link to the famous “Field of Dreams” in Jamaica — the patch of land that has produced the fastest men in the history of sprinting.

Roosters speed and conditioning coach Hayden Knowles told us of his dream to bring a Jamaican flyer to the NRL following a series of trips to Kingston to work with Bolt and his coaching staff.

The relationship between Knowles and the fastest camp in the world has already proved a winner for the Roosters with Leeroy Gray — one of Bolt’s coaches — set to spend two weeks with the Roosters this month.

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“I know Brad Fittler is certainly interested having already had some success in Fiji,” Knowles said. “These Jamaicans are such incredible athletes and I have no doubt they could be a success over here.

“I would love to see it in the future but it is a matter of getting hold of them early enough.”

Jamaica already has a national rugby league team with former Tigers ironman Glenn Morrison recently linking with the minnows.

Could Kane Evans have been a sprinter in another life?

Knowles, who will host a seminar with Fittler and Gray at Allianz Stadium this weekend, stunningly said that the Roosters’ best chance of winning a 100m medal at the Olympics would be prop forward Kane Evans.

“He has a remarkable stride,” Knowles said.

“I reckon Gray would take him back to Jamaica if he had to choose.”

MORE PANTHERS ON THE MOVE

THE Panthers have been quietly shopping players around after spending up big on a recent recruitment drive.

After snaring Kangaroo James Tamou on a whopping deal and, more recently, Mitch Rein, Penrith last week offloaded Jeremy Latimore in a bid to free-up some cash.

We can reveal Suaia Matagi is also set to depart, with the former Warrior weighing offers from the Titans and Eels.

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BENJI LETS LOOSE

BENJI and Zoe Marshall held nothing back on Thursday in a frank interview with Kyle and Jackie O on KissFM.

A candid Marshall told of wetting himself, being uncontactable for four days after Mad Monday celebrations and Tantric sex.

The couple is undergoing therapy to deal with money issues, something that has no doubt been alleviated with Benji securing a recent lifeline with the Broncos.

MAGUIRE HITS THE ROAD

MICHAEL Maguire joined the list of the NRL’s greatest minds to go on a whirlwind world fact-finding mission when he jetted off to the United States last week.

Maguire is in New York, where he will visit some of the world’s best sporting organisations before returning to flog the Rabbitohs into shape with one of his infamous pre-seasons.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is in Chicago with the Milwaukee Bucks while Shane Flanagan left for the UK on Saturday where he will spend time with the Red Bull Racing High Performance unit before hopping over to the US to visit the San Francisco 49ers.

Maguire is one of a number of coaches who will embark on global research tours.

FINCH TO RETURN TO CHANNEL 9

BRETT Finch will be back on air for Channel 9 next year as part of the broadcaster’s rugby league coverage after the former NRL playmaker returned from a stint in rehabilitation.

He’s confident he has conquered his demons after being treated for both depression and anxiety at an overseas clinic he checked himself into almost three months ago.

Back in Australia, Finch is devoting time to the RUOK Foundation by working as an ambassador for the suicide prevention charity.

This week, he and his fiancee Elli Johnston, travelled to Cairns to spread the word about RUOK and accept a cheque from the Department of Human Services.

“I’ve got some plans but it’s a little too early to make any announcements,” he said.

Finch has become an ambassador for RUOK.

GLORY MAN GETS A RUN WITH THE STARS

SPOTS in FIFA17’s Team of the Week are usually filled by English Premier League and La Liga players.

But it was hard to go past Perth Glory striker Andy Keogh after his A-League hat-trick in his side’s stunning 3-2 win over Melbourne City.

The Irishman scored with his right foot, left foot and his head to earn selection in the squad, which included world famous Chelsea players Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante

Mitchell Starc survived a close shave in Perth before he’d even bowled a ball.

A CLOSE SHAVE FOR STARC

AUSSIE quick Mitchell Starc has no qualms about making men nervous by launching 140km/h rockets down the cricket pitch.

But the Aussie Test bowler is not so keen on seeing anyone get the shakes when they are holding a razor instead of a lump of williow.

Starc claims he survived a “near-death’’ experience when he got a clean shave from one of Perth’s trendiest barbers in preparation for the Movember charity campaign.

Apparently the barber was a huge Starc fan and got so excited about the prospect of shaving the speedster that he started shaking while wielding the cutthroat.

Mitch survived the close shave and has since gone about shredding up the Proteas.

Originally published as Cronulla make history by signing Ruan Sims to an official Sharks playing contract