A PACIFIC STORM IS BREWING
Ex-Wolves star Sims insists one of the proud island nations will rule the world sooner rather than later
ASHTON SIMS has warned it won’t be long before a Pacific Island nation lifts the Rugby League World Cup.
Former Warrington prop Sims, who joins ambitious Toronto Wolfpack next season, will line up for Fiji in the upcoming tournament.
With the number of Pacific Islanders increasing in Australia’s NRL every year, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea are all tipped to go well.
Top-level NRL stars Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita have even chosen to play for Tonga over New Zealand and Australia respectively this year.
And Sims, whose country have reached the semi-finals in the last two competitions, believes that one day one of the nations could rule the rugby league world. Sims said: “I can’t see why not. You look at Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, PNG – we’re getting stronger every year.
“It’s a really good thing to see all the island players in the NRL, and good to see our game evolving and expanding in the surrounding countries and islands. “I don’t think it’s too far away. “It’s always been the big three – England, Australia and New Zealand.
“But for the sake of the game, you don’t want in 30 years’ time it to be the same three teams at the top in the World Cup.
“It’s an exciting time for rugby league, definitely. We’ve done pretty well the last two World Cups – and have the likes of Jarryd Hayne in the squad this time.
“We’re shaping up alright, although it’s going to take a lot of hard work to beat the likes of Australia, New Zealand and England, obviously. But we’re confident. You never go into a World Cup trying to make a quarter or a semi-final, you’re always trying to win it or else there’s no point being in the team.” Sims will be one of three siblings and a cousin featuring in World Cups Down Under. Brother Korbin will also play for Fiji, while sister Ruan is captain of the Australian women’s side and cousin Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been called up by the Kangaroos. Sims added: “It’s a real cool experience, and real humbling to see that when we were young we’d play at Easter and Christmas and now look where we are. My grandmother, auntie and my mum are real proud of what we’re doing. “Representing Fiji has always been a big feather in my cap – a real honour and a real privilege to represent my mother’s heritage.”