Timmins was born in Kiama, New South Wales[citation needed], where he played junior football and made his first appearance as a seventeen-year-old for the Steelers in round 18 of 1994 against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
He also played for New South Wales that year and entered State of Origin folklore in Game I of the 2004 series by kicking the winning field goal in extra time.
[2] Following the 2004 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, France and the US, Timmins announced his retirement from representative football, expressing a focused intention to win a premiership with St. George Illawarra.
Timmins's contract discussions with the Castleford Tigers for the 2007 season in the UK ended following that club's relegation to second division and after speculative talks with the Gold Coast Titans he was forced into retirement due to the condition of his knees.
[3] In March, 2007, Timmins once again felt he was ready to compete in the NRL and offered his services to the Dragons following a pectoral muscle injury to Mark Gasnier.