HE considered hanging up the boots last season but Quirindi skipper Toby Simkin is enjoying his footy as much as ever as part of a resurgent Lions side.
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After not tasting success for over two seasons, the Lions head into the second round with three win, after accounting for Tamworth 26-15 last Saturday.
One of the shining lights through the tough years, Simkin has consistently been one of the Lions’ best as he was on Saturday, picking up the zone three best and fairest points.
The four points though were the ones he was really after.
It took them within three of the Magpies, although the points will restart for the second round for the Tier 2 sides.
One of only a couple of survivors from the side that made the semi-finals in 2010, this is Simkin’s ninth season of first grade with the Lions.
The last few have been lean and Simkin admitted last year he did start to question whether he would go round again.
“But after Toothy’s (Nick Tooth) accident I realised I was still young,” he said.
And while he is, he should do what he loves.
He said this season had been a nice turnaround.
“It’s so good to be competitive again,” he said.
“We knew it would come.”
It finally did against Scone.
They showed glimpses against Walcha in the first round and, after their draw with Gunnedah, against defending champions Narrabri.
“It was just those 20-minute lapses that hurt us,” he said.
There wasn’t any of those on Saturday although Simkin said they probably could have controlled the ball a bit better.
It was anyone’s game, and for a while in the second half the Lions had to chase.
“To have the momentum going against us and pull it back in, that’s something we haven’t been able to do,” Simkin said.
It was a sign of the belief they are starting to build, and which has been one of the big factors in things turning around for them.
“Starting to believe is the big one,” he said.
“Knowing that we can win.”
“Winning is a habit and so is losing.”
The win has them going into the second round confident but realistic of the job in front of them.
“We are confident, but we realise it’s must win from here,” he said.
They are effectively on zero again.
And there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“We need to get our structure better,” Simkin said.
Having not just the first one or two plays worked out off their set moves but the next four or five and sticking to them.
He was the only forward to figure in the best and fairest points, with Tamworth outside centre Joe Evans earning the two and Lions winger Jake Smith the one.
They’ve got Barraba at home tomorrow while the Magpies host Scone.
In Tier 1 action, Moree head to Walcha for the second successive week while Narrabri are at home to Pirates.
