Former NRL player Ashton Sims to talk mental health in Bathurst

Sims, the older brother of current professionals Korbin and Tariq, played over 360 games in the NRL and the Super League and lower divisions in a career that spanned 17 seasons.

He'll be speaking to both senior and junior players at the Panthers club, with the invitation to attend the talk at the Panthers Leagues Club extended to referees as well.

Panthers treasurer Danny Dwyer said Sims will be talking about mental health on Thursday night.

"The invite has mainly gone out to referees, the players and generally anyone within the Panthers football community," he said.

"The club has a welfare sub-community, so we just wanted to expanded on what we're doing as a club, when the boys are having a hard time and they need someone to talk to."

Panthers had actually had Sims and retired St George Illawarra Dragons forward Dan Hunt booked in to come out to Bathurst last year, however, that was rescheduled to this year, but Hunt was unable to attend.

Sims played for St George Illawarra from 2003-2007, before heading to Queensland to play for the Brisbane Broncos (2008-2010) and North Queensland Cowboys (2011-2014) before playing for Warrington Wolves from 2015-2017 and Toronto Wolfpack from 2018-2019.

The education welfare session will start at the leagues club at 6pm.

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