knights no. 1
Con Mika
Brisbane recruit Ashton Sims didn't know what hamstrings were until he started training with the Broncos.
Now they scream at him every day.
The 22 year-old former Dragons forward has been introduced to a new range of squats and weights as he builds towards his first season with the six-time premiers.
One of several new faces at the club, he's being knocked into shape by Brisbane's performance director Jeremy Hickmans and long-time weights coach Dan Baker.
"I've done squats before but not at this range," said Sims, who jumped at the chance to join the Broncos under Wayne Bennett's coaching.
"We're getting really deep and heavy, which is helping my legs which weren't that big when I came up here."
"They (hamstrings) have been hurting bad but they're getting better each week."
A rangy forward advancing on 100 NRL games, Sims is a youngster who accepts he is still learning the game.
"I'm pretty excited about being here and I know I've got a lot to learn," said Sims, whose talent was recognised with selection for 2006 Country Origin - which he had to pull out of due to injury - when he was 20.
"I did have those expectations when I was younger and I sat back and waited for it to happen," he said after a solid tackling session on Friday.
"I'm older and a little wiser now and they've got the coaches around here to take me to the next level.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Sims, a potential representative player, didn't think twice when the offer came from the Broncos.
"This club speaks for itself. It breeds premierships and it breeds success," he said.
"It was great to get the phone call that they were interested in me.
"As soon as I came up here I loved the place."
Brisbane have lost a wealth of forward experience with Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn, Dane Carlaw and Shaun Berrigan leaving to chase other interests.
Sims, Penrith representative prop Joel Clinton, and utility PJ Marsh will help fill the void while Panther Peter Wallace has been earmarked as a possible new scrum base partner for skipper Darren Lockyer, on the mend from major knee surgery.
Sims has set his goal on consistency in 2008, something he struggled to find with the Dragons.
"I want be a consistent week to week player which I struggled to do with the Dragons for various reasons," he said.
"I played some of my better footy last year, but not on a consistent basis.
"I want to be consistent week in and week out and not let my form drop off."
Players like Sam Thaiday, David Taylor and Nick Kenny will be pushing hard for first team selection but Sims has his sights fixed on playing in Brisbane's opening game of the season against Penrith.
"I want to be there for sure," he said.
"I want to be there all year."
Now they scream at him every day.
The 22 year-old former Dragons forward has been introduced to a new range of squats and weights as he builds towards his first season with the six-time premiers.
One of several new faces at the club, he's being knocked into shape by Brisbane's performance director Jeremy Hickmans and long-time weights coach Dan Baker.
"I've done squats before but not at this range," said Sims, who jumped at the chance to join the Broncos under Wayne Bennett's coaching.
"We're getting really deep and heavy, which is helping my legs which weren't that big when I came up here."
"They (hamstrings) have been hurting bad but they're getting better each week."
A rangy forward advancing on 100 NRL games, Sims is a youngster who accepts he is still learning the game.
"I'm pretty excited about being here and I know I've got a lot to learn," said Sims, whose talent was recognised with selection for 2006 Country Origin - which he had to pull out of due to injury - when he was 20.
"I did have those expectations when I was younger and I sat back and waited for it to happen," he said after a solid tackling session on Friday.
"I'm older and a little wiser now and they've got the coaches around here to take me to the next level.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Sims, a potential representative player, didn't think twice when the offer came from the Broncos.
"This club speaks for itself. It breeds premierships and it breeds success," he said.
"It was great to get the phone call that they were interested in me.
"As soon as I came up here I loved the place."
Brisbane have lost a wealth of forward experience with Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn, Dane Carlaw and Shaun Berrigan leaving to chase other interests.
Sims, Penrith representative prop Joel Clinton, and utility PJ Marsh will help fill the void while Panther Peter Wallace has been earmarked as a possible new scrum base partner for skipper Darren Lockyer, on the mend from major knee surgery.
Sims has set his goal on consistency in 2008, something he struggled to find with the Dragons.
"I want be a consistent week to week player which I struggled to do with the Dragons for various reasons," he said.
"I played some of my better footy last year, but not on a consistent basis.
"I want to be consistent week in and week out and not let my form drop off."
Players like Sam Thaiday, David Taylor and Nick Kenny will be pushing hard for first team selection but Sims has his sights fixed on playing in Brisbane's opening game of the season against Penrith.
"I want to be there for sure," he said.
"I want to be there all year."