the record until broken by Mick Cronin over a decade later. In 1973 he overtook Keith Barnes' record for the most points scored in an NSWRFL career (1,519); Simms' eventual total of 1,841 stood as the new career record for ten seasons until it was surpassed by Graham Eadie in 1983. Club records Simms set and still holds a number of South Sydney club records: second Most points in first grade career: 1841 points (23 tries, 803 goals, 86 field goals); Most first grade points in a season: 265 points in 1969 (1 try, 112 goals, 19 field goals); Most goals in first grade career: 890; Most goals in a first grade season: 131 in 1969; Most goals in a first grade game: 11 against Cronulla, 11 April 1969 and against Penrith, 27 July 1969. Simms is fifth place in the number of most first grade matches: John Sutton (309*), Nathan Merritt (218), Bob McCarthy (211), Craig Coleman (208), and Eric Simms (206). World Cups 1968, 1970 In the 1968 Rugby League World Cup, Simms gained the distinction of becoming the fourth Aboriginal to represent Australia in rugby league. He scored 50 points in four games at the 1968 World Cup, a record which still stands today. He played in the 1970 World Cup in England two years later and scored 37 points in total. The final, played at Leeds in November, 1970 has been described "as the most savage international ever played" and "a running brawl"; after the full-time whistle, with Australia having won, Simms offered a handshake to the English winger, John Atkinson, who responded by head-butting Simms. Coaching career After the 1975 season, Simms moved to Crookwell, New South Wales, with his wife Sue and three children, Brendon, Kristie and Simone where he was captain-coach in 1976 until an arm injury (sustained in a tackle) forced his playing retirement at age 31. He coached Crookwell in 1977 and returned to Sydney where he coached the La Perouse team in 1978. Goal kicking prowess Simms is regarded as one of the greatest goal kickers in Rugby League. Ron Coote has said that Simms' kicking ability was a combination of talent and hard work: "Eric would get to training and stand on the halfway line and Clive Churchill would stand under the posts ... . Eric would practise field goals from halfway one after the other for half an