Rovers coach cools speculation over Sims’ Craven Park future
james.obrien@reachplc.com @jamesobhdm
TONY Smith has moved to quash speculation over Korbin Sims’ future, insisting the Hull KR prop is simply enjoying some family time in Australia.
The 29-year-old endured a difficult first year in England, arriving during lockdown before being restricted to 14 appearances due to injuries, including a series of head knocks early in the season.
Sims featured only four times in the final two months of the campaign, missing the play-offs with an Achilles issue.
The Australian was understandably keen to head back home during the off-season to be reunited with his young son after 10 months apart.
The timing of Sims’ return Down Under has sparked talk of a possible exit for the Fiji international, which intensified in the wake of an Australian report crediting Rovers with an interest in Dylan Napa.
But Smith is fully expecting Sims to report back to Craven Park at the start of December.
“Australia has only just opened up so this is his first opportunity to get back,” the KR head coach told the Mail.
“All along I told him that when Australia opens up he can go. He’s got a young son over there and
I’ve heard the conversations of ‘Daddy, are you coming home tomorrow?’ most days.
“So this coach who is also a father of two told him that whenever Australia opened up he could have a break for a month and then come back. I couldn’t deny any father of that for the sake of three weeks of pre-season.
“He’s committed for two years (2021 and 2022) so he’ll be back. He’s going home to see his son and some of his other family as well. He’ll be back on December 4.”
Smith gets the sense from Sims that he is targeting a big year after a disappointing debut season.
“I’ve had those conversations with a few of our players,” he added.
“Anybody who doesn’t rip it up wants to improve and get better. Certainly the boys who came from overseas and came with reputations, it hurts and it’s difficult.
“There’s been a few difficulties for Korbin and some of the others in terms of it being a disjointed year and being away from what’s known to them.
“I’m able to put myself in that position because I did it and found out how tough it is. Some people find it difficult to put themselves in that position because they’ve not done it and left a position of comfort.
“These boys have left a position of comfort and found out it’s not so easy.
“Once they get their heads around it, knuckle down to it and make some decisions to make it work even harder, that’s when the differences can be made.”
On the link with Napa and whether KR were ever interested, Smith replied: “No. Our quotas are full so there’s no point.”