Ashton Sims to remain a Cowboy
Friday 11 May 2012 6:00 AM
Front-rower Ashton Sims has extended his contract with the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys until the end of the 2014 season, giving him the chance to play at least 200 games in the NRL.
The 27-year-old, who first joined the Cowboys at the start of the 2011 season, signed off on his new deal last night.
He said he was eager to stay with North Queensland because of the strength of the club’s current playing list, as well as the chance to keep playing alongside his younger brother, Tariq, who has signed until the end of 2015.
“You can tell there’s something special happening here at the Cowboys and I always wanted to stay in North Queensland,” Sims said.
“It was definitely my preferred option and I’m excited that it’s happened.
“We have some great young forwards and backs coming through, plus a number of other current guys extending their contracts, and I can see this club being strong for a long time.
“It’s a really enjoyable environment to be in on and off the field and there’s nothing better than to have your brother sharing the experience with you.
“I didn’t want to head back south and happily we’ve been able to extend my contract here for a couple more years.”
Sims, who made his NRL debut as an 18-year-old for St George Illawarra, has now played 170 matches, including 33 for the Cowboys.
He played all but two matches in his first year for the club when the Cowboys made the finals for the first time in four years and has been an ever-present force in 2012, filling in admirably in the starting front-row when co-captain Matthew Scott went down with a foot injury.
Cowboys General Manager – Football Peter Parr said Sims had proven to be a fine acquisition.
“We’ve been really happy not only with Ashton’s form as an important member of our forward pack but also the leadership ability he’s brought to the Cowboys,” Parr said.
“He’s very professional with his football and that rubs off on everyone around him, setting an example for others to follow.
“The job he performed with Matthew Scott out showed his value to this club and we’re delighted to have him extend his contract with us.”