The medical team who have rebuilt it not once but twice might have other ideas but North Queensland forward Tariq Sims reckons he would give his left leg for another NSW Origin nod.

Sims, 22, was all smiles when he returned to the Cowboys gym this week nursing a left leg now described as “indestructible” by doctors.

What a difference a fortnight makes.

Sims was reduced to tears when told he had suffered a second double leg fracture in a year after colliding with Penrith’s Cameron Ciraldo in the Cowboys’ May 19 win.

But it wasn’t just the prospect of another long recovery that saddened Sims – hours before the fateful game, he had been named NSW’s 18th man for Origin I.

While confident of returning to NRL action this year, Sims still wondered what might have been as NSW prepared for next week’s Origin II in Sydney.

“I wish I could be there and help out the boys as much as I can – I would give my left leg literally,” Sims said of the NSW team.

“But I am pumped for the Blues. You can feel the tide turning.

“We’ve got to stop this Queensland machine. It’s ridiculous.”

Those words might be close to blasphemy up north but Sims reckons a lot of love from Cowboys fans had helped him through the tough times.

Sims was a broken man in more ways than one after having pins inserted to strengthen his left leg just three days following the on-field collision.

“I was a bit angry when it first happened, but it was one of those things,” Sims said.

In the two weeks away from Cowboys training, Sims has lost 7kg but gained plenty from a promising doctor’s report.

He still faces 12 weeks of rehab before he can start running again but is already walking around on crutches without a cast and can hit the Cowboys gym.

“I just spoke with the physio and he said the progress I have made since surgery has been unbelievable,” Sims said.

“The doc says it (leg) is indestructible. I will test it out but he said it would take a fair bit for it to go again so I am not worried about that.

“I am chewing at the bit for this 12 weeks to be over so I can start running and get back into training again.”

Surgery and rehab might have fast-tracked Sims’ recovery but the menacing forward revealed a bit of TLC had also gone a long way.

“I have had the love and support of family and friends. My mum has been up the last two weeks,” he said.

“And she’s been cleaning the house so I have a brand new house now.”

AAP lc/ajw/wk