EXILED Queensland Emerging Origin squad member Valentine Holmes has earned his ultimate personal redemption by playing a part in Cronulla’s historic 14-12 NRL grand final win over Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.
The Sharks, for so long the butt of premiership jokes, finally broke through for their maiden NRL title in a gripping grand final against a brave Storm side.
Holmes found himself at the centre of a State of Origin scrubfire in January this year, when he was involved in an altercation that would ultimately end with the police and NRL Integrity Commission involved.
Holmes was one of eight rising Maroons placed on a 12-month ban for breaking team curfew, ending his dreams of playing for Queensland.
He was left to watch on as, just months later, Corey Oates and Justin O’Neill were called up to make Origin debuts in the Queensland backline.
But to his credit, Holmes turned his negative situation into a positive, admitting the ban from Maroons selection had been the wake-up call he needed to spark a dominant season on the wing for Cronulla, culminating in a terrific game in the grand final.
Holmes was one of the best on the field for the Sharks, with his fearless kick returns helping to keep Cronulla’s massive pack on the front foot all night.
The Sharks were true to their name and attacked ferociously from the opening whistle, putting to rest any concerns they would let the occasion and 49 years of history get to them.
The Storm by comparison were not their normal selves, and Cronulla’s huge weight of possession in the first half never allowed Melbourne to find their rhythm and take control of the match.
Despite all of that, somehow the Storm managed to pick themselves off the canvas and actually led late in the match, until a try to rampaging prop Andrew Fifita pushed the Sharks back in front again.
Queensland captain Cameron Smith was again heroic for the Storm, working through an incredible 72 tackles in the match trying to keep his team in the game.
His fellow Queenslanders Cooper Cronk, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster and Tim Glasby were all among Melbourne’s better performers, but the Storm were always struggling against the wave of emotion driving Cronulla.
Former Blues player Luke Lewis was named the Clive Churchill Medal winner, capping an amazing story that saw him win a premiership with Penrith on the wing 13 years ago, overcome a battle with cancer and finally win a second title as a backrower with the Sharks.
Cronulla’s first title win since joining the competition in 1967 capped a fairytale weekend in Australian football, with AFL premiers the Western Bulldogs also ending a drought by winning their first premiership in 62 years the day before.
Holmes’ incredible season and grand final heroics saw him named in the Kangaroos Four Nations squad by Australian coach Mal Meninga.
Holmes, Jake Friend and Canberra’s Shannon Boyd were named in the Kangaroos squad despite not yet having played State of Origin in obvious look ahead to next year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Holmes, Friend, captain Cameron Smith, Darius Boyd, Cooper Cronk, Matt Gillett, Greg Inglis, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill, Josh Paplii, Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday and Johnathan Thurston were the Queenslanders named in the squad.
Holmes’ Cronulla teammate James Maloney was also selected for Australia for the first time.
KANGAROOS SQUAD: Cameron Smith (c), Darius Boyd, Shannon Boyd, Boyd Cordner, Cooper Cronk, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, Jake Friend, Tyson Frizell, Matt Gillett, Valentine Holmes, Greg Inglis, David Klemmer, James Maloney, Josh Mansour, Trent Merrin, Michael Morgan, Matt Moylan, Justin O’Neill, Josh Papalii, Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Aaron Woods.
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