The Gold Coast Bulletin

Sims playing way into Blues jumper

- SCOTT BAILEY

TARIQ Sims shapes as the answer to NSW State of Origin coach Brad Fittler’s hardhittin­g problems.

So obvious is it that the Blues coach even let it slip himself during St George Illawarra’s 24-8 Anzac Day victory over the Sydney Roosters.

The 28-year-old was superb yesterday, constantly shutting down the Tricolours’ star-studded spine before popping up when it mattered in attack.

The only question hanging over him during the competitio­n’s opening weeks was his lack of big-game experience, given he has only played two finals matches in his career and the 2013 World Cup with Fiji.

However, regular season occasions don’t get much bigger than the Anzac Day clash in front of a record crowd for the fixture of 41,142 supporters.

Just as he did throughout the opening seven rounds, Sims delivered.

He twice laid out Cooper Cronk in attack.

Both hits were legal but left the Roosters’ No.7 rattled after he pounced and crunched.

That wasn’t enough for him either.

Moments after the second hit, he ran on to a Gareth Widdop short ball and straight past the former Queensland No.7 for the Dragons to go up 18-2 early in the second half.

Ben Hunt also pushed his case as the heir to Cronk’s Queensland halfback throne.

Hunt got the Dragons going when he decided to run the ball on the last in the opening minute before he and Cameron McInnes allowed Widdop to put a kick away for winger Nene Macdonald to score.

When Fittler was asked during Channel 9’s commentary how he would find a way to stop Hunt come June’s interstate series, the mentor had one answer.

“We’ll sick Tariq on to him,” he said.

 ?? Picture: GETTY IMAGES ?? A pumped-up Tariq Sims celebrates the Dragons’ victory over the Sydney Roosters in the Anzac Day clash.
Picture: GETTY IMAGES A pumped-up Tariq Sims celebrates the Dragons’ victory over the Sydney Roosters in the Anzac Day clash.

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