Young North Queensland sensation Tariq Sims could not have a better inspiration to aid his recovery from a broken leg than indestructible NRL teammate Brent Tate.

If there's one player who knows about fighting back from serious injury, it's the gutsy representative centre Tate.

The 30-year-old, who hails from the same Queensland township of Roma as Darren Lockyer, is rugby league's undisputed iron man.

He's beaten a career-threatening neck injury with the help of a specially-designed cushioned brace he wears every time he plays and he's come back from not just one knee construction, but three.

Those who saw images of a heartbroken Tate weeping in the arms of an Australian trainer after rupturing his anterior cruciate in last November's Four Nations loss to New Zealand will never forget the pain in his eyes.

To be heading to New Zealand this weekend on the verge of playing finals football nine months later is a testament not just to his immense courage but also his love of a game that has at times been so cruel to him.

It also makes him more qualified than most to assure the dynamic Sims - whose stellar NRL season was shattered along with his leg last weekend - that this, his first major injury, isn't the end of the world.

"The thing in his favour is they don't have to operate on him," Tate told AAP before the Cowboys head across the Tasman to play the Warriors on Saturday, in a game which will determine their position in the top eight.

"It's literally just trucking in a cast for 12 weeks. I know from experience when they're not opening you up and they're not screwing things or playing with your ligaments, it's straight forward.

"He won't have any trouble coming back from this. He'll heal up nice and be bigger and stronger and 12 months older when he comes back."

Tate said from his own injury experiences, it was a lot tougher mentally coming back after surgery than a clean break.

"I've got no doubt it's a minor setback for Tariq with his work ethic and the way he carries himself," he said.

"It will be a piece of cake for a bloke like him.

"I can't rap the kid enough. He's been brought up really well, he's your really respectful, hard working kid."

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