COWBOYS forward Ashton Sims thought he may have slipped quietly out the backdoor to take up his contract in the UK but his departure hasn’t gone unnoticed in federal parliament of all places.

Sims, who will continue his career with English Super League club Warrington, was acknowledged by his local member Ewen Jones in Canberra this week.

Jones said Sims and his family fitted into the Townsville community “like a right hand goes around a can of XXXX Bitter Ale.”

“(His departure) leaves our city desperately short of Metallica fans and Thor the God of Thunder impersonators.

“I don’t claim to know him well at all but I am a huge fan of the way he plays the game and carries himself.”

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