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NEW Knights signing Tariq Sims is relishing pre-season training under head coach Rick Stone.
Sims, 24, played under Stone when he was the Fiji coach at the 2013 World Cup.
That short stint gave the barnstorming former Cowboy a taste of what to expect when he joined Newcastle, and Stone is living up to his reputation as a coach who has the ultimate respect from his players.
At the World Cup I learned so much from Stoney on and off the field, as a player and a person, Sims says.
Im just loving the opportunity that I have got here to play under him.
Rick knows when to have a laugh and play jokes on people, but he is a bloke that demands a lot of respect.
To get the most out of your players, youve got to have that.
When he says to do something, everyone does it because everyone holds him in such high regard.
He has done his apprenticeship and it is just good to see he has got that head role.
He is a great coach and Id like to think Ill learn a lot off him and people like Bedsy (assistant coach Danny Buderus).
Ive already learned a fair bit off skipper Kurt Gidley in the first week too.
Sims showed great courage and application to come back from two broken legs that he suffered in his four seasons with the Cowboys.
But those injuries are well behind him, although he is still a stickler for adhering to the strength program the club has him on.
Coming to Newcastle is a very positive move for me and I am very happy with where I am at the moment training wise and body shape wise, Sims says.
I am feeling the fittest I have in a while.
I had a lot of help from the North Queensland staff nursing me back to 100 per cent, and down here in Newcastle I have just picked up where I left off.
They have got me on a strength program for my leg and are helping me develop as a player.
Coming back from those serious injuries, it is never fully healed, so you have to do everything in your power to keep fit and keep strengthening it.
I am really loving my time here at the Knights so far.
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