Legs OK, so Tariq Sims sets to work on his demons

COWBOY Tariq Sims works towards another comeback from serious leg injury with the help of a sports psychologist.

Tariq Sims

THE Cowboys have offered Tariq Sims the services of a sports psychologist to help the NSW Origin hopeful overcome the mental trauma of two serious leg injuries.

Sims' gruelling rehabilitation came full circle on Wednesday when the 22-year-old had his first contact session at Cowboys' training since breaking his leg in a round 11 clash against Penrith in May.

The heartbreaking injury came only seven games into Sims' comeback from the tibia and fibula fracture he first suffered during his breakthrough rookie campaign last year.

Mindful of the emotional struggle Sims has waged in his battle to re-gain fitness, the Cowboys are providing a support network to ensure the rampaging backrower succeeds next year in his third comeback.

Sims has already sought the counsel of Cowboys' veterans, Matt Bowen and Brent Tate, who have undergone five knee operations between them in their decade-long NRL careers.

"Tariq is into full training now, which is great," coach Neil Henry said.

"He's no longer in the rehab group. He will need some settling-in time but he's right to go into full contact and we've already been doing some good defensive work with him.

"I'm confident he won't have any dramas. If he needs to come up with strategies, we have a sports psychologist here to talk to Tariq about the mental hurdles of coming back from major injuries.

"There are still challenges ahead for Tariq, as we get into more heavy contact work there is an element of doubt, but we have plenty of time to get him right for the pre-season trials."

Despite his injury sagas, Sims has maintained his playing weight of 109kg and Henry says he will have no hesitation catapulting him into the starting side if the former NRL Rookie of the Year fires in the trials.

"I know he wants to be in the starting side," he said. "If he's playing the footy he is capable of playing he won't come off the bench, he will command a backrow spot.

"But Tariq will have to fight for it because Gavin Cooper and Glenn Hall did a good job last year and we've got Jason Taumalolo as well."

Cowboys high-performance manager Paul Bowman backed Sims to conquer his demons and become an Origin player.

"There will be some mental scarring for Tariq to overcome but if we get his speed, power and strength back to where it was, that will help him put the past behind him," said Bowman, the former Maroons centre.

"He's doing pretty well, at the moment he is down on where he was in speed testing but a couple of broken legs will do that to you.

"But I'm confident Tariq will get back to his best, the fact he's back training with everyone else is a good sign."