Heart-Warming Moment Tariq Sims Shields Concussed Opponent While All-In Brawl Breaks Out

St George Illawarra Dragons forward Tariq Sims was the star of the show against the Newcastle Knights.

The bulldozing powerhouse put on a flawless display and bagged two tries to help his side beat the Knights 22-13.

But while his relentless runs and tenacious tackles were impressive, they weren't even in the conversation when deciding his stand-out moment from the game.

A classy gesture from Sims mid-way through the second half not only ensured the safety of his rival opponent but also highlighted the type of bloke Sims is.

Instagram/@tariqsims

With just under 25 minutes left in the game, the Knights were leading the Dragons 13-12 when St George winger Mikaele Ravalawa received the ball in his own half from a kick.

And with the Knights players closing in on him, Ravalawa put his foot down and charged full pelt at the defensive line.

The flying Fijian hit huge speeds as he was met by four Newcastle defenders - one of those being five-eighth Kurt Mann.

As Ravalawa collided with the Knights players, his shoulder connected with Mann's head which sent him crashing down to the McDonald Jones Stadium turf in a heap.

Clearly concussed from the monster hit, Mann barely moved as he lay motionless on the field.

His Knights teammates took exception to the incident and an all-in melee quickly broke out between the two teams.

But as the brawl erupted, one bloke sprung into action to attend to the injured Mann.

Not only was Sims first on the scene to help his concussed former teammate, but he also took the time to shield him from the fight to ensure he wasn't stepped on.

"Hats off, Tariq Sims, sportsmanship personified in that moment," Fox Sports Australia commentator Andrew Voss said.

"He's over there shielding one of his opponents from the melee.

"That's quite a moment in this sport of rugby league."

Top work from Sims, top work indeed.

Fair play to fellow Dragons players Matt Dufty, Corey Norman and Cody Ramsey who were also on hand to make sure Mann was OK.

It's the sort of sportsmanship that really shouldn't go unnoticed.

As for Mann himself, he didn't return to the field and is expected to miss the Knights' next NRL clash against the Gold Coast Titans.

Topics: Concussion in sport, Injury news, injury, Rugby League, nrl, Australia, Newcastle Knights

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry