5:48 Highlights from Catalans Dragons’ golden-point win over Hull Kingston Rovers in the opening round of Super League
That shirt will then be auctioned off to raise funds for the foundation set up to support Masoe and other players who suffer spinal injuries, and although he is only just getting to know the 31-year-old, who is still a familiar face around Hull College Craven Park, Sims hopes he can do his predecessor justice.
“He’s been a great clubman in the NRL and over here in Super League, and it’s only fitting we play St Helens at St Helens for Mose,” Sims said.
“I’m more looking forward to getting out there, respecting and showing some passion and pride for the front-rowers union and looking forward to after the game being able to put my jersey up for auction to raise money for the Mose Masoe Foundation.
“I’m still getting to know Mose personally and that’s going to take time, but obviously the boys who do know him well speak highly of him and he’s a very intelligent person.
“To have him be a part of the club where he can lend knowledge to younger players and help them if they need it, he’s always there for a chat and it will be good to get to know him over the next couple of years while I’m here.”
Sims will come up against fellow Fiji star Kevin Naiqama and former Newcastle Knights team-mate Sione Mata’utia when Hull KR take on St Helens in the second match of Thursday’s double-header at Totally Wicked Stadium, live on Sky Sports.
Saints kicked off their bid to make it three Super League titles in a row with a 29-6 win over Salford Red Devils last Friday and Sims knows Rovers cannot afford another slow start against the back-to-back champions.
“The one main thing we’re going to be focusing on is starting strong,” Sims said. “We got off to a slow start in our trial match against Castleford and then we got off to a slow start in our match against Catalans, and you just can’t do that to good teams.
“They’re going to capitalise on our mistakes, so we’ve got to make sure we’re fit enough and strong enough to get through that opening period where they’re going to throw everything at us and we’re going to throw everything at them.
“We showed on the weekend we can score points later on in the game, so if we can fix our start then we’ll be all right.”
Sourse: skysports.com
