Flying Fijian Semi Valemei ready to replace banned Cowboys centre

North Queensland livewire Semi Valemei has put up his hand to replace Valentine Holmes in the centres ahead of a critical derby duel with Kotoni Staggs and the Broncos on Saturday.

North Queensland livewire Semi Valemei has put up his hand to replace Valentine Holmes in the centres ahead of a critical derby duel with Kotoni Staggs and the Broncos on Saturday.

The Cowboys will miss Holmes for the remainder of the regular season after he unsuccessfully fought his charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

North Queensland has a shocking record when without their star centre, making an already challenging game against the Broncos even tougher.

Since Holmes joined the Cowboys in 2020 the club has won just three of the 16 games without him – a win rate fewer than 20 per cent.

With the red hot Broncos on a collision course for Queensland Country Bank Stadium the race is on to find a replacement capable of filling Holmes’ jersey.

Semi Valemei scores a try against the Parramatta Eels during round 21. Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Left centre has gone from a position of strength to North Queensland’s greatest headache in the space of a week, with a trial by fire against Staggs in store for whoever lines up at centre.

Soft-spoken Fijian Valemei is not one for bold statements but insisted he would have no hesitation if asked to move infield.

“I would put my hand up and I’m just going to make sure that I do the job for everyone,” Valemei declared.

“If they put me in the centre or if they put me on the wing, I’ve just got to stick to the game plan and try to do the job.

“It’s a big game for Brisbane and for us as well and we’re going to have to turn up.”

Semi Valemei celebrates with Scott Drinkwater after scoring a try. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Valemei was used almost exclusively as a centre in 2022 for the Canberra Raiders, playing seven NRL games and seven NSW Cup matches in the position.

The Labasa product also lined up at centre during five games for Fiji at last year’s Rugby League World Cup.

Valemei has been instrumental in the Cowboys’ mid-season turnaround, winning six of his seven games for his new club and contributing with eight tries.

Cowboys co-captain Chad Townsend revealed the club would trial several centres in Holmes’ place this week.

“Toddy has a couple of options but obviously there’s a bit of an opportunity there for someone to come in and really grab that spot,” Townsend said.

“I just want to bring in someone that can do the job.”

Tom Dearden throws a pass during the round 22 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and North Queensland Cowboys. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Five-eighth Tom Dearden wasn’t fazed by the prospect of a left-edge shake-up.

“It’s only our first training run today (Wednesday), so we’re going to have people that fill in for Val,” Dearden said.

“He’s a big loss, he’s an important part of our team, but it’s about us just getting our game on and bouncing back.

“Whichever player fills in there, it’s about trying to play to their strengths.

“We know they’re going to bring something different to what Val does to the team and I think it’s important that we get reps in at training defensively, and attacking as well, and try and build a bit of a combination because whoever is going to fill in for him is going to be there for the next four weeks.

“We didn’t attack the game like we have been the last month or so, we were a bit flat and our attitude probably wasn’t where it needed to be – it’s important that we bounce back from that.”

Originally published as Flying Fijian Semi Valemei ready to replace banned Cowboys centre