Wikipedia

Ashton Sims

Ashton Sims(born 26 February 1985) known in the north on England as the "King of Warrington" is a Fi gian formerrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level forFiji,and at club level for theSt. George Illawarra Dragons,theBrisbane Broncosand theNorth Queensland Cowboysin theNational Rugby League(NRL), theWarrington Wolvesin theSuper Leagueand theToronto Wolfpackin theChampionship,as aforward[2]

Ashton Sims
Personal information
Born(1985-02-26)26 February 1985(age 39)[1]
Sutherland,New South Wales,Australia
Playing information
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb)[1]
PositionProp,Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–07 St. George Illawarra 81 9 0 0 36
2008–10 Brisbane Broncos 56 2 0 0 8
2011–14 North Qld Cowboys 91 2 0 0 8
2015–17 Warrington Wolves 90 7 0 0 28
2018–19 Toronto Wolfpack 50 1 0 0 4
Total 368 21 0 0 84
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008–17 Fiji 12 0 0 0 0
Source:[2][3]

Background

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He was born inSutherland, New South Wales,Australia.

Playing career

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While attendingKiama High Schoolin 2002, Sims was selected to play for theAustralian Schoolboys team.[4]He played his junior football for theGerringong Lions.[5]

St. George-Illawarra Dragons

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Sims played for his local NRL club,St George Illawarra Dragons,from 2003 to 2007, making his NRL début against thePenrith Panthersin round nine of the 2003 season. In 2004 he suffered a suspected broken jaw, having been elbowed in a wayward shoulder charge by Newcastle'sClint Newton.Newton was sent off and suspended for twelve weeks. Sims however managed to play out the game.[6][7]During the 2007 season, the Dragons told Sims he was no longer wanted at the club, and he signed for theBrisbane Broncoson a three-year contract starting in 2008.[8]He played 81 NRL matches for the Dragons over five seasons.

Brisbane Broncos

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Sims in action for Broncos

Sims made hisBrisbane Broncosdébut in the Round 1, 2008 clash against reigningwooden spooners,thePenrith Panthers,in a 48–12 win. Later that year, an elimination semi-final against theMelbourne Storm,Sims started the match in the back-row. The Broncos were leading at the time, but went on to lose the game in the final minute, after Sims dropped the ball with two minutes remaining in the match, which led to the match winning try byGreg Inglis.Sims described it as "one of the low points" of his career. Sims played almost 60 games for the club and was one of the club's highest paid players, he played in the back-row and in the front row during his time at the Broncos.[9]

Shortly after the Broncos' semi-final exit, Sims was named in theFijisquad for the2008 Rugby League World Cup[10]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.[9]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.[11]

Sims fell out of the Broncos' starting line-up early in the 2009 season, finding himself playing for theNorths Devilsin theQueensland Cup.[12]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.[13]However, he only played nine NRL matches in the following season, and in August signed to play for theNorth Queensland Cowboysin 2011.[14]

North Queensland Cowboys

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Sims in action for Warrington

Sims moved to North Queensland with his younger brother,Tariq,who had played in the Broncos'Under-20steam.[15]He played in 24 matches for the Cowboys in the 2011 season, and was a substitute for their qualifying final loss toManly.Ashton Sims led the way for NRL props inoffloadsin 2011, making 42 to his teammates.

Sims hit career best form for the Cowboys in 2012 averaging 108 metres and 22 tackles, he did an admirable job in the Cowboys starting pack while rep star Matthew Scott was out with a foot injury.

On 11 May 2012 it was announced that the oldest Sims brother had re-signed with the club for a further two seasons, which saw him at the club until the end of the 2014 NRL season.[16][17]

Warrington Wolves

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Sims signed for Warrington Wolves ready for the 'New Era' of Super League in 2015, with a reformatted competition. Whilst at Warrington Wolves he received a League Leaders Winners medal and Runners up Medals for the2016 Challenge Cup Finaldefeat byHull F.C.atWembley Stadium[18][19]and the2016 Super League Grand Finaldefeat by theWigan WarriorsatOld Trafford.[20]

Toronto Wolfpack

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Sims signed for Toronto Wolfpack following the 2017 Super League season. The Canadian side played in theChampionshipin 2018 following theirLeague 1title in their inaugural season in 2017.

Representative career

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Ashton represented Fiji in the2013 Rugby League World Cup.He appeared in all 5 of Fiji's matches.

In May 2014, Ashton captained Fiji in the2014 Pacific Rugby League International.Fiji failed to win the test match and in doing so, failed to qualify for the2014 Four Nations. In October 2017, Ashton represented Fiji once again in the World Cup, held in his home country Australia. There, Fiji beat New Zealand in the Quarter Finals but unfortunately suffered a loss in the semifinals to Australia and cousin – Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

Personal life

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Sims is the older brother of fellow rugby league playersKorbinandTariq Sims.His elder sisterRuan Simsplayed for theAustralian women's teamin 2010.[21]He is married to Nicole Sims and father of 4 children. He is Australian born and is ofFi giandescent

References

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  1. ^abc"Ashton Sims".Warrington Wolves.2014. Archived fromthe originalon 4 August 2015.Retrieved28 July2015.
  2. ^ab"Ashton Sims".Love Rugby League.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2013.Retrieved1 January2018.
  3. ^"Ashton Sims – Career Stats & Summary".Rugby League Project.Archivedfrom the original on 22 May 2011.Retrieved1 January2018.
  4. ^"Australian Schoolboys".Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League.Sporting Pulse. Archived fromthe originalon 21 August 2008.Retrieved10 October2008.
  5. ^Heming, Wayne (5 May 2011)."Best mates continue NRL rivalry".National Rugby League.Australian Associated Press. Archived fromthe originalon 27 August 2011.Retrieved29 October2011.
  6. ^Walter, Brad (26 August 2004)."Newton struck out for 12 weeks".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2012.Retrieved29 October2011.
  7. ^Williams, Steven (25 August 2004)."Clint Newton suspended for 12 matches".League Unlimited.Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2012.Retrieved29 October2011.
  8. ^Balym, Todd (23 June 2007)."Sims a Bronco, Petero unclear".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved29 October2011.
  9. ^abHeming, Wayne (8 October 2008)."Ashton Sims excited about Fiji selection".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved29 October2011.
  10. ^"Anderson cleared for Tonga squad".BBC Sport. 8 October 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2008.Retrieved10 October2008.
  11. ^"Ashton Sims – Matches played for Fiji".Rugby League Project.Retrieved28 June2009.
  12. ^Ricketts, Steve (21 April 2009)."Forward Ashton Sims could quit Brisbane Broncos".The Courier-Mail.Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2012.Retrieved29 October2011.
  13. ^Heming, Wayne (15 September 2009)."Sims earns Broncos return".The Courier-Mail.Archived fromthe originalon 23 July 2012.Retrieved29 October2011.
  14. ^Koch, Dan; McDonald, Margie (3 August 2010)."Titans escort Greg Inglis on full tour of Gold Coast before making $1m offer this week".The Australian.Archived fromthe originalon 31 December 2012.Retrieved29 October2011.
  15. ^"Cowboys hurt by criticism: Thurston".Australia:ABC News.28 January 2011.Retrieved29 October2011.
  16. ^"2011 Season Statistics".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved31 October2011.
  17. ^"Ashton Sims: NRL 2011 match list".Rugby League Project.Retrieved29 October2011.
  18. ^"Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington".The Guardian.27 August 2016.Retrieved7 November2019.
  19. ^"Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves".BBC. 27 August 2016.Retrieved7 November2019.
  20. ^"Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!".The Guardian.8 October 2016.Retrieved7 November2019.
  21. ^Brad Walter (The Sydney Morning Herald) (17 May 2013)."Sims sister Ruan leading way as female participation swells".Retrieved16 July2014.
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