In 2007, Simmonds joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League competition, but played in just 7 games that season.
Norths then lost the grand final in the last 20 seconds of the game after Parramatta player Weller Hauraki crossed over for the match winning try.
[3] From 2008 to 2010, Simmonds worked as a coal-miner and played in the lower-tier based rugby league competitions, with Collegians in Wollongong and Wests Illawarra.
He retired in 2010 after breaking his leg for a second time, but was persuaded to return to playing, winning a local premiership for Wests.
[5] In 2011, Simmonds was called into the Dragons' NRL team to help compensate for nine players out due to injuries and origin commitments.