Korbin Sims has welcomed change both on the training paddock and in his personal life since the pre-season kicked off last month.
Most notably, the Newcastle Knights forward welcomed his first child, Taavi Boyd Sims on Tuesday November 24, with the beaming first-time father quickly getting his head around his new role.
With mum Tarin and baby both healthy and well, Sims is lapping up the special moments of getting to know their son.
“The baby is doing really well, feeding really well and sleeping quite regularly,” Korbin told Knights TV.
While he admits training fulltime and adjusting to a newborn baby has been a challenge, it’s a change he is delighted about.
“It is still hard at the moment. I like having my sleep and I’m pretty selfish with some of my time, but family has always come first for me and he is at the top of my priorities,” he said.
“Any chance I can help out around home is a great help to my partner as well who is doing it tough at the moment.”
At 23-years of age, Sims is now considered one of the senior members of the Knights' squad as he embarks on his fourth NRL pre-season.
After cementing his spot in the Knights’ starting line-up in 2015, he has plenty of experience to assist the squad’s youngest members taking on their first NRL pre-season.
“It’s a little bit weird now actually. I look forward to it and I like having a bit of a role to do with the team,” Sims said.
“If any of the younger boys are willing to talk to me or have anything they need to talk about, I’m always willing to help.
“It’s not a divided situation with us at Newcastle with the senior members and the younger players, it’s one big group and we try to help each other out as much as we can.”
Sims has been kept on his toes since the arrival of new head coach Nathan Brown.
“I’m training in the back row at the moment and trying to develop that skill so I can play more edge back row next year,” he said.
“Browny (Nathan) has given me the nod to go into the second row and train there more than the middle of the pack.
“In saying that, if he needs I can play in the middle as well and that’s one of my favourite positions.
“I’m trying to learn a new skill now and that’s what excites me the most.”
It’s not the only variation within the side that’s aimed to breath fresh air into the mix.
“As a Club we are working on a new defensive structure and Mark Andrews (Knights Defence/Contact and Conditioning Coach) has done a great job at trying to transition us into the new phase of our defensive component,” he explained.
“Browny has been doing a great job as well and is really excited at the fact we do have a young squad and are progressing forward.
“I like the changes that have happened so far. We mix it up and every second day we do gym in the morning and a run in the afternoon, which is a good change.
“The changes that Browny has brought in have started to benefit us as a Club.
“If we can get the squad to buy into what Browny wants out of us then we’ll do well next year.”
Meanwhile, the 2016 season marks the second year he’ll take the field alongside his older brother Tariq, something he’s enjoyed immensely since the former North Queensland Cowboy joined the Knights at the beginning on 2015.
“We’ve always had a close bond. All we’ve had to do is get used to being teammates during the past year,” he said.
“He’s handled himself tremendously throughout the year.
“Coming into the second season where going to be playing together now, he’s excited for it and so am I and I’m sure Newcastle fans are excited as well.”
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