For the past three years, Queensland selectors have had too many sleepless nights searching for quality centres. But Cowboys speed demon Valentine Holmes has ensured new Queensland coach Billy Slater will rest a little easier as he prepares for his maiden series in charge of the Maroons. The retirement of the legendary Greg Inglis at the end of 2018 left a gaping backline void as large as the Grand Canyon. In 2019, utilities Michael Morgan and Moses Mbye were asked to plug the gap.
The following year, premiership-winning Penrith back-rower Kurt Capewell, now at the Broncos, was forced to answer an SOS on Queensland’s left edge. But the centre stock shortage was most brutally spotlighted last season.
While Capewell toiled manfully out wide, NSW’s star-studded centres Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic inflicted the most damage in the 2021 campaign, consistently carving up the Maroons to engineer the Blues’ third series win in four seasons. But North Queensland coach Todd Payten’s off-season decision to switch Holmes from fullback or wing to left centre has not only paid dividends for the Cowboys, it could also deliver a welcome jackpot for the Maroons. Holmes has been a revelation at left centre in the opening months of the 2022 NRL premiership and one of the headline acts of North Queensland’s stunning revival.
After eight rounds, the 26-year-old has posted three tries, five line breaks and an impressive 29 tackle busts, troubling opposition NRL defences with his speed, footwork and power. Holmes is a proven Origin performer on the flanks, having scored nine tries in 10 appearances for the Maroons, including a hat-trick in just his second game in 2017,
But he shapes as the Queensland No.3 to muzzle a NSW attacking onslaught this season. “I definitely want to put my hand up for that Queensland centre spot,” Holmes said. “I was actually pretty close a few years ago to playing Origin in the centres. “I was talking to Wayne (Bennett, former Queensland coach) when we were running low with injuries (during the 2020 series) and he suggested it to me. “I said, ‘Geez, I haven’t played centre for a while’, but I think this year I would be a lot more confident. “On the wing, you score more tries, but as centre you are closer to the game and you get to make more decisions. It’s a very crucial position. “The defence was the main change for me. Attacking-wise, I didn’t think it would be a drama for me, but defensively I knew I would have to do some work in that area. “I’ve worked hard on my defensive movements and talking to the defender inside me, but it’s going well so far.” Holmes underlined his class as a centre by outpointing Broncos ace and NSW Origin hopeful Kotoni Staggs twice in the space of six weeks earlier this season. In a pre-season trial, Holmes outgunned Staggs, scoring a try in a 26-6 victory, before backing up in the premiership proper, spearheading the Cowboys’ 38-12 demolition of Brisbane in Round 3 as his Broncos rival had a shocker at Suncorp. Holmes came under fire for a patchy 2021 campaign at fullback and wing for the Cowboys, prompting Payten to road-test him at centre.
So far, the switch has been vindicated. “Val spent every day in pre-season training at left centre and he can become a real strike weapon for us in that position,” Payten said. “Some of his backfield stuff last year reminded me of where he was at before he left (to trial for an NFL contract) and this is his third season back in the NRL. “Val has the tools to become a real strike centre. What I have liked about Val is his application.
“He is always looking for information and feedback from the coaches on how to improve and at centre, he doesn’t have to be dialled into every play, like he was at fullback. “It’s a position that suits his weapons.” The former Australian World Cup winger missed the entire 2019 NRL season after his shock move to America in his ultimately failed bid to make it in the NFL. While it was only a 12-month hiatus, Holmes concedes it took longer than expected to get his “rugby league brain and body” back. “I’ve found my feet again in the NRL,” he said. “The first year was always going to be tough coming back from America, especially with the rule changes in the NRL.
“The second year I had a few injuries, and I don’t think my body had adjusted to the speed of the game and the physicality of it. “But this year I’m physically and mentally fine, so there’s no excuses. “I think the centre position is set in stone for me now.
“I’ve been very blessed to play for Queensland, and I will always play wherever they need me. But if I can get that centre jersey, I will take it with two hands and do my best.”
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