Tariq Sims' State of Origin dream is over after the burgeoning North Queensland star was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg in the Cowboys' 30-28 win over Penrith at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
Only included in Ricky Stuart's New South Wales squad as 18th man on Saturday afternoon, Sims was left clutching his lower left leg in pain hours later.
Sims collided with Panther Cameron Ciraldo while trying to ankle tap Travis Burns as he scored in the 53th minute.
The 22-year-old was only playing his sixth match of the season after returning from a horrific leg break during a clash against Cronulla last season and had gained the attention of Blues selectors with some powerful form.
The seriousness of the injury was immediately apparent, team-mate Glenn Hall calling over medical staff quickly and the back-rower was taken from the field on a stretcher and transported to nearby Townsville Hospital.
It is believed he might have broken his leg in the same place as last year and his condition put a serious dampener on the Cowboys' thrilling win.
The victory came without North Queensland's Origin quartet Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Brent Tate and James Tamou.
The injury appeared to deflate the Cowboys, who were leading 24-18 at the time following two quick tries to Gavin Cooper and Antonio Winterstein after the break.
The Panthers found themselves with numbers down the left-hand side, allowing centre Brad Tighe to equalise with 14 minutes on the clock.
Tighe put his side in front on 69 minutes, benefiting from some quick hands to beat Matt Bowen in the corner with a leaping effort.
But Sims' older brother Ashton restored the Cowboys' lead on 73 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball knocked back by recalled winger Kalifa Faifai Loa as he jumped for a Bowen bomb and gave his side the win.
Cowboys: 30 (M Bowen, A Graham, A Winterstein, G Cooper, A Sims tries; M Bowen 4/5 cons, 1/2 pens)
Panthers: 28 (C Newtown, L Coote, T Burns, B Tighe, J Mansour tries; B Austin 3/3, L Walsh 1/2 cons)
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, townsville-4810, qld, australia First posted May 19, 2012 21:29:15
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