Tariq Sims’ card finally marked for State of Origin duty

Ashton Sims has been a human missile for the Dragons. Now he gets the chance on the Origin stage.

NSW backrower Tariq Sims finally gets a chance at Origin level. Picture: Getty Images

Three men in a ute. They pull up outside the Gloria Jean’s coffee joint near ANZ Stadium about 90 minutes before the announcement of the NSW team for State of Origin III. They’re Dragons players. They grab a table to the left of the counter. They watch a video on a small mobile device while they’re huddled around like overgrown boy scouts on the first day of camp. You can hear the commentary of the game they’re watching. Widdop! Widdop! Widdop!

Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan and Tariq Sims are glued to a replay of the Dragons’ win over the Eels in Round 16. As soon as de Belin and Vaughan finishes their cuppas, they seem certain to be named in the Blues’ squad. Sims seems just as certain to be hanging around as the 18th man. But geez, he’s in good spirits. Talkative. Animated. Clean-shaved. Sprightly. A comb has been run through his hair. You suspect that maybe he’s received word that he’s going to make the cut. We’ll see.

Sims really does have a spring in his step. He must be in. Players always know team announcements before they’re actually announced. It’s the only way to ensure they’re there.

At 9.30am, Sims and the rest of the Blues are in the tunnel at ANZ Stadium. On a stage on the field, NSW Sports minister Stuart Ayres is reading out the squad. No 1, James Tedesco. No 2, Thomas Turbo. No 3, Latrell Mitchell. No 4, James Jet … No 10, Paul Vaughan … No 13, Jack de Belin … No 14, Tariq Sims. And you think, ‘knew it’! He’s obviously been told by Fittler ahead of time. He’s obviously been unable to contain himself over his morning brew. And who can blame him?

But no. Later in the week, I tell Sims that I’ve seen him jumping out of his skin on the morning of the announcement. What a thing it must’ve been to get the telephone call from Fittler. When was it? The night before? That morning? He starts shaking his head and says it hasn’t been like that at all. He’s been cock-a-hoop because he’s loved every second of the first two Origin camps and the third is about to get underway. That’s it. It hasn’t mattered that he hasn’t played a single second of the first two games. He’s been stoked, to use his own term, to be the 18th man. The rest of the conversation goes like this:
Reporter: “But you knew at Gloria Jeans, right? You must’ve known then?”
Sims: “Nope. No idea.”
Reporter: “Really?”
Sims: “Really.”
Reporter: “When did you find out?”
Sims: “Later.”
Reporter: “How much later? When did Brad tell you?”
Sims: “He didn’t.”
Reporter: “What?”
Sims: “I literally didn’t know until they read me out as No 14 when we were in the tunnel. I had to jump ahead in the line because I was just standing around at the back. I thought I was going to miss out again. They went No 13 Jack de Belin, No 14 Tariq Sims, and I was like, oh, f …! I had to get up on the stage.”
Reporter: “You’re kidding”
Sims: “It was different, that’s for sure. But I’m glad Freddy did it like that. It was a nice way to find out because it was a proper surprise. It never happens like that. You normally know if you’re in or out. No one else knew, either. That’s why you see us all laughing and giggling in the photos. Jimmy (Roberts) was behind me, poking me with his water bottle. I was trying to process it while I was up on the stage. I was like, I’m in? Oh, f …! I’m in! I turned around and he (Fittler) was like, ‘Congratulations, brother. You’re playing.’ I turned around again and everyone was shaking my hand while we were meant to be getting a nice team photo. It was the best. The best.”

Sims deserves his shot at Origin at 28 years of age because he’s been a human missile for the Dragons this year and more to the point, because he’s been stoked to be involved before he’s really become involved. He’s been prepared to accept less and as though some sort of Buddhist karma is at play, he’s finishing up with more.

He’s a fierce physical weapon who will hit hard and heavy against Queensland. There’s any number of rich personal stories in Origin III and one of them will be coming off the bench for the Blues. No 14, Tariq Sims.