Ashton Sims
Encyclopedia
Ashton Sims is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys
of the National Rugby League
(NRL). A Fiji international
representative forward, he previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Brisbane Broncos
. Sims has two brothers: Tariq
, who also plays for the Cowboys, and Korbin
, who plays for the Newcastle Knights
Under-20s team.
in 2002, Sims was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys team
. He played his junior football for the Gerringong Lions.
, from 2003 to 2007, making his NRL debut against the Penrith Panthers
in round nine of the 2003 season. In 2004 he suffered a suspected broken jaw, having been elbowed in a wayward shoulder charge by Newcastle's Clint Newton
. Newton was sent off and suspended for twelve weeks. Sims however managed to play out the game. During the 2007 season, the Dragons told Sims he was no longer wanted at the club, and he signed for the Brisbane Broncos
on a three year contract starting in 2008. He played 81 NRL matches for the Dragons over five seasons.
debut in the Round 1, 2008 clash against reigning wooden spooner
s, the Penrith Panthers
, in a 48–-12 win. Later that year, an elimination semi-final against the Melbourne Storm
, Sims dropped the ball one minute and twenty seconds before the end of the match, following a hit by Israel Folau
and Sika Manu
. The Broncos were leading at the time, but went on to lose the game in the final minute, due to a try to Greg Inglis
. Sims described it as "one of the "low points" of his career.
Shortly after the Broncos' semi-final exit, Sims was named in the Fiji squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
and was later confirmed for the final squad. He had only visited Fiji once in his life—for a holiday—but qualified to play for the country because his mother was born there. He was Fiji's starting second-rower for all four of their matches; Fiji qualified for the tournament's semi-final for the first time.
Sims fell out of the Broncos' starting line-up early in the 2009 season, finding himself playing for the Norths Devils
in the Queensland Cup
. He was recalled to the Broncos' first thirteen for the team's finals campaign, in which they fell one match short of qualifying for the Grand Final. However, he only played nine NRL matches in the following season, and in August signed to play for the North Queensland Cowboys
in 2011.
, who had played in the Broncos' Under-20s team. He played in 24 matches for the Cowboys in the 2011 season, and was a substitute for their qualifying final loss to Manly
. Ashton Sims led the way for NRL props in offloads in 2011, making 38 to his team mates.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL). A Fiji international
Fiji national rugby league team
-Competitions:Fiji have participated in:*Pacific Cup *World Cup *World Sevens *Superleague World Nines *Superleague Oceania Tournament *Pacific Rim Competition -Results:...
representative forward, he previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
. Sims has two brothers: Tariq
Tariq Sims
Tariq Sims is an Australian rugby league player. He plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League...
, who also plays for the Cowboys, and Korbin
Korbin Sims
He got drunk and f***** my mom.He is currently playing for the Newcastle Knights NYC side.-External links:*...
, who plays for the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
Under-20s team.
Playing career
While attending Kiama High SchoolKiama High School
Kiama High School is a New South Wales Government co-educational secondary school located in the town of Kiama, New South Wales, Australia.-Natural environment:...
in 2002, Sims was selected to play for the Australian Schoolboys team
Australia national schoolboy rugby league team
The Australian Schoolboys rugby league team is the national rugby league football team for secondary school students in Australia.The Australian Schoolboys or Australia Schoolboys represent Australia on a national level at rugby league at youth level...
. He played his junior football for the Gerringong Lions.
St. George-Illawarra Dragons
Sims played for his local NRL club, the St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
, from 2003 to 2007, making his NRL debut against the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in round nine of the 2003 season. In 2004 he suffered a suspected broken jaw, having been elbowed in a wayward shoulder charge by Newcastle's Clint Newton
Clint Newton
Clint Newton is an American born professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in Super League. He previously played for Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition...
. Newton was sent off and suspended for twelve weeks. Sims however managed to play out the game. During the 2007 season, the Dragons told Sims he was no longer wanted at the club, and he signed for the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
on a three year contract starting in 2008. He played 81 NRL matches for the Dragons over five seasons.
Brisbane Broncos
Sims made his Brisbane BroncosBrisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
debut in the Round 1, 2008 clash against reigning wooden spooner
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
s, the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, in a 48–-12 win. Later that year, an elimination semi-final against the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, Sims dropped the ball one minute and twenty seconds before the end of the match, following a hit by Israel Folau
Israel Folau
Israel Folau is a professional Australian rules footballer currently listed with the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League . He previously played Rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most...
and Sika Manu
Sika Manu
Sika Manu is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. He was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final...
. The Broncos were leading at the time, but went on to lose the game in the final minute, due to a try to Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...
. Sims described it as "one of the "low points" of his career.
Shortly after the Broncos' semi-final exit, Sims was named in the Fiji squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
and was later confirmed for the final squad. He had only visited Fiji once in his life—for a holiday—but qualified to play for the country because his mother was born there. He was Fiji's starting second-rower for all four of their matches; Fiji qualified for the tournament's semi-final for the first time.
Sims fell out of the Broncos' starting line-up early in the 2009 season, finding himself playing for the Norths Devils
Norths Devils
The Northern Suburbs Devils, Norths for short, are a rugby league club representing the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. The team colours are sky blue, navy blue and gold. They play in the Queensland Wizard Cup, and, through their predecessors, are one of the oldest clubs in...
in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
. He was recalled to the Broncos' first thirteen for the team's finals campaign, in which they fell one match short of qualifying for the Grand Final. However, he only played nine NRL matches in the following season, and in August signed to play for the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in 2011.
North Queensland Cowboys
Sims moved to North Queensland with his younger brother, TariqTariq Sims
Tariq Sims is an Australian rugby league player. He plays for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League...
, who had played in the Broncos' Under-20s team. He played in 24 matches for the Cowboys in the 2011 season, and was a substitute for their qualifying final loss to Manly
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
. Ashton Sims led the way for NRL props in offloads in 2011, making 38 to his team mates.