At least Korbin Sims will always remember his first NRL final.
In fact, his brother Tariq may never let him forget it.
Brisbane have rallied around a distraught Korbin Sims after his string of errors helped propel St George Illawarra to a stunning 48-18 rout in Sunday’s NRL elimination final.
Making it worse, his older brother – Dragons’ NSW back-rower Tariq – was the main beneficiary of the brain explosions and crossed for a game changing first half hat-trick of tries.
Adding further insult, Tariq ran over the top of his sibling to clinch his third.
It was a nightmare Broncos farewell for Korbin Sims, who links with the Dragons next season on a three year deal.
It wasn’t quite the finals debut the 26-year-old Sims had envisaged after waiting 119 NRL games for his first taste.
Even retiring Broncos great Sam Thaiday felt for Sims, defending his brain fades as players gathered around to support the upset prop.
The shock result drew the curtain on Thaiday’s 16 season, 304 game career with Brisbane but his thoughts quickly turned to teammate Sims.
“Korbin was just trying to stand up for the team and play his role. He is going to be a fantastic player in the future,” he said.
“It won’t be too long until he pulls that Queensland jersey on.”
Sims leaves Brisbane after two seasons but may not get any respite for his shocker at his next destination.
Sims will no doubt be reminded of his last game when he reunites with his brother at Saints’ pre-season training.
Unfortunately there will be plenty to rib him about.
In the first half alone, Korbin appeared to raise an elbow in a tackle that forced a concussed James Graham from the field for the afternoon and the prop was later penalised for a lifting tackle on Blake Lawrie.
Frustration then crept in as Sims was pinged for stripping the ball in a three-man tackle and gifted the Dragons yet more points on the stroke of halftime when penalised for not being square.
“He’s had a couple of brain explosions, he’s lost his head,” Fox Sports TV commentator Greg Alexander said.
Sims was finally hooked by coach Wayne Bennett with 25 minutes left.
Bennett reckoned finals rookie Sims was not alone, saying his young team’s failure to deal with expectation had brought them undone.