Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs: Rob Simmons won’t yell like Dell at Suncorp faithful
HE’S too mild to give the Suncorp crowd a gobful like Wendell the Waratah but NSW convert Rob Simmons won’t shy away from a running battle with one fired-up Queenslander.
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​HE’S too mild to give the Brisbane crowd a gobful like Wendell the Waratah but NSW convert Rob Simmons won’t shy away from a running battle with one fired-up Queenslander at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Simmons, who was snapped up by the Waratahs after the Reds discarded him last year, makes his first return to the stomping ground he called home for a decade as a banana bender.
The mild-mannered Wallabies lock isn’t planning on a showy return, having exorcised the raw emotion of playing against Queensland when NSW thumped them 37-16 at the SCG in April.
Given it had to be explained to him, there certainly won’t be a repeat of Wendell Sailor’s wild first game back at Suncorp Stadium as a Waratah in 2006.
Almost 40,000 fans crammed in and responded to the “Boo Dell” marketing campaign. Sailor taunted the crowd back and gave them an “up yours” when he booted the ball into touch to finish the game, with NSW winning 16-12.
“I am looking forward to it, like I look forward to every game. I haven’t really thought much about going back there,” Simmons said.
“As the season is going on, I have sort of moved on. I played them once and that was a big one for me to do that. I need to concentrate on in my own game, rather than worry about the emotional side off the field.”
It probably helps that some of the people who punted Simmons from the Reds, like coach Nic Stiles, have now moved on. But one giant involved, albeit innocently, is still there: lock Izack Rodda.
The Reds threw their money and faith in the young lock and Rodda responded, making his Wallabies debut last year. But Simmons’ move south has also seen him in career-best form.
The pair will go head-to-head on Saturday night, and Simmons said winning all one-on-one battles was a big focus for NSW on the path to winning the game.
In a juicy twist, though, the pair are probably going head-to-head for a spot in the Wallabies starting side, too; alongside Adam Coleman.
“It’s very important,” Simmons said when asked of his Rodda battle.
“One of the things we’ve been doing for the last few weeks is win our one-on-one battles, so you have to do your research on your own guy and figure out how you can get over him.
”Those one-on-one battles, those two (Rodda and Kane Douglas) in particular have been playing some very good footy, in terms of trying to put holes in defences, they’re doing a good job. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
With the fixture circled in both team room calendars, the Reds usually approach the Waratahs game with a fire-and-brimstone attitude, according to Simmons.
Even more so now, he assumes, with Brad Thorn in charge.
“For the forwards it has definitely,” Simmons said.
“It is a real, let’s-go-to-battle mentality. The forwards take that on and try and punch little holes in you everywhere on the field.
“They want to make it tight and win every little battle and every little moment on the field. Which it is every game but this is just enhanced. Everyone tries to do that little bit more, that 5-10 per cent extra, which adds up throughout the game. Win your man-on-man battle.”
Simmons said he’d been shocked by the news of good mate James Slipper testing positive for cocaine twice, and being suspended for two months.
But Slipper is keen to get back on the field, he said.
“Speaking to him, I know he will (be playing again),” Simmons said.
“He can’t wait to get back out there but he knows he has to get himself right first.”
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Originally published as Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs: Rob Simmons won’t yell like Dell at Suncorp faithful
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