Korbin Sims will get the chance to play alongside elder brothers Ashton and Tariq when Fiji get their Rugby League World Cup 2013 campaign underway against Ireland at Spotland, Rochdale, on Monday (8.00pm).
Fiji will be Australia's opponents at Langtree Park five days later and this gives a good indication of the strength of the team gracing St Helens.
All three Sims brothers play for different NRL clubs, so this represents a rare opportunity for Korbin, Ashton and Tariq to play together and Newcastle Knights forward Korbin has relished the experience.
“It has been great playing with them,” said Sims. “It means the world to me to be here and get the chance to represent my family and my country. I’m so proud to represent Fiji.
“It’s been an enjoyable camp and now that we’re here, ready to play in the World Cup it’s just awesome. It’s a great experience and we can’t wait to get started.
“The mood’s been very good this week in camp. We’ve all enjoyed a tough week leading up to our first game. We’ve bonded well and we had a week in Fiji which was nice.
“I’d say the warm-up helped us. It definitely helps us as a team to come together and bond, it gave us a chance to see how we all like to play the game.”
“We don’t really know what to expect against Ireland as we haven’t had a chance to see them play but we have seen some of their players, and we know to never underestimate them.
“We played them in the last World Cup, so we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.”
“Every game is important, it doesn’t matter who it is against, you have got to be lifted for what is in front of you.
Sims, who scored a hat-trick in Fiji’s warm-up game against Rochdale Hornets, says he is happy with the standard of performance he has maintained throughout the year and is excited at the prospect of replicating their 2008 exploits when The Bati reached the semi-finals.
“I can’t complain about my form,” said Sims. “I had my chance for Fiji when I made my debut and I have got another chance now.
“I have just tried to play as well as I can and keep my form as high as I can leading into the World Cup, and now I am really excited for Monday.
“The boys did really well in the last World Cup, that run we had does give us inspiration, so this year we are expecting the same of ourselves if not to go one better and reach the final.
“We certainly don’t expect less but the priority at the moment is to get through this group stage.”
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