Veteran Fiji Bati player Korbin Sims believes more should be done to give Rugby League World Cup participating nations time to prepare players together.
Sims ran out for the Bati in his second world cup tournament against Italy at Kingston Park in Newcastle this morning.
The former Hulls KR club forward answered an SOS call to join the Bati camp from captain Kevin Naiqama after the withdrawal of several National Rugby League forwards.
He said the short time frame to prepare the Bati needed to be looked at. Sims made the comment after being asked about the young Fijian squad assembled for the pinnacle event of the rugby code.
“There’s a lot of talent. Because it’s such a small time frame, it’s hard for these camps when you don’t have the time frame of certain nations to put everyone together in a camp and work on our strengths and weaknesses,” Sims said.
“But we always click together not just as a team but as a nation.”
Sims will be missing his brother Ashton and Tariq after he made his debut alongside them at the 2013 tournament. But he said he would have his other brothers on the field.
“I’ve still got my brothers here. I’ve got 16 other brothers that are gonna grace the field with me this weekend, that’s the way I see it — we’re a big family not just as a team but as a nation back home,’ he said.
“Hopefully, they’ll wake up early and support our brothers that are playing for Fiji and the nation now.
“I’m looking forward to it. Even though they’re not my blood, they are my brothers.”
He said the Fiji Bati had a good stable of young to carry the side forward.
“There’s a young core group here which is going to turn into the core leadership group for the Fiji Bati moving forward.
“Us older fallas ain’t gonna be around most probably for the next world cup. The young crop that are coming through, it’s a great learning experience for them, especially playing in a different nation and in the world cup.
“Being in camp it’s like we’ve known each other for years and years — I’ve only known most of these lads for a couple of weeks and I already fell close to them.”
Sims will move into retirement after the world cup campaign – something he was looking forward to.
“Just a bit of time off to start with, moving back to Australia and spending some time with my son. It’s been a number of months since I’ve seen him while I’ve been here in the UK.
“Some time off first and I’ll look for work in the new year.”
