NRL 2024: Valentine Holmes cleared for State of Origin, as Cowboys win 42-28 over Wests Tigers
Queensland star Valentine Holmes is clear to play in Origin I after the NRL’s match review committee handed him a lenient punishment for a hip drop tackle committed on Friday night.
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The Maroons have received a huge boost with star centre Valentine Holmes free to play in Origin I.
Holmes will be hit with a grade-one dangerous contact charge, meaning the Cowboys centre is only facing a fine for his controversial hip-drop incident on Friday night.
There were fears Holmes could be rubbed out of Origin I after being sin-binned for a hip drop on Tigers second-rower Isaiah Papali’i, but the Maroons centre has the green light to play in the series opener in Sydney on Wednesday week.
When asked in the post-game press conference if Holmes has a case to answer, Cowboys coach Todd Payten said “absolutely not” before taking aim at the bunker.
“It wasn’t a hip-drop to start so I’m gobsmacked at the interference from the bunker in that situation,” he said. “I don’t know what a rugby league player is supposed to do when they’re going for a try and he lunges at their legs — and he’s going to land on their legs. I’ve got no doubt about where he’s going to land.
“But it’s not a hip drop and our game has tried to stamp out the hip-drop where there is a guy standing in a tackle and they lose their legs and land on the legs.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers have been hit with another monster ban with David Klemmer rubbed out for the next three games.
It is Klemmer’s fourth charge in seven games.
‘NOT A HIP DROP’: PAYTEN SLAMS BUNKER
- Patrick Woods
The Cowboys survived a second-half scare to beat Wests Tigers 42-28 on Friday night in Townsville.
The Tigers were at risk of being blown off the park, trailing 20-0 after the first 20 minutes, but they showed plenty of ticker to stop the bleed and fight their way back into the arm wrestle.
Three straight tries cut the lead to four points before the Cowboys regained their composure to take home the victory, despite conceding two consolation tries in the dying stages.
Halfback Chad Townsend took charge for the home side, assisting four tries and creating three linebreaks. Townsend now has 18 try assists through 12 games this season.
Rookie Tigers five-eighth Lachlan Galvin was one of his team’s best, breaking four tackles and setting up two tries in a losing side.
Wests have plenty of work to do during the bye round but there were plenty of positives for the struggling Tigers.
HOLMES HIP-DROP MAKES STATE SWEAT
Valentine Holmes and an entire state will sweat on the judiciary after the star centre was sin-binned for a hip-drop tackle on Isaiah Papali’i who was making his return from a suspension for tripping.
Holmes is in the race to secure an Origin place in Billy Slater’s Queensland team, but if selected would not have an opportunity to serve a ban before game 1 on June 5.
Papali’i had to be helped from the field and did not return, activating 18th man Alex Lobb.
Holmes had brought his kicking boots with him, nailing all but one of his eight kicks at goal including a couple of tricky sideline attempts.
Todd Payten hit the Bunker with both barrels in the post-match press conference, saying the inconsistency with calls was turning fans away from the game.
Payten insisted star centre Valentine Holmes “absolutely (did) not” have anything to answer for after he was sin-binned for a perceived hip-drop tackle that forced Isaiah Papali’i from the field with injury.
“It wasn’t a hip drop for a start so I’m gobsmacked at the interference from the Bunker in that situation,” Payten said.
“I don’t know what a rugby league player is supposed to do when they’re going for a try and he lunges at their legs – he’s gonna land on their legs.
“I’ve got no doubt where he’s gonna land, but it’s not a hip-drop. And our game has tried to stamp out the hip-drop where there are two guys standing in the tackle, or a guy standing in a tackle, and they lose their legs and land on the legs.
“Textbook: David Klemmer in the second half and nothing happened. The Bunker has every right to interfere then and get the call right.
“We lose one for 10 (minutes) and just the inconsistency annoys the crap out of me, the players, our members and our fans of the game.”
When asked if Holmes had anything to answer for, Tigers coach Benji Marshall said “it’s not up to me”, but reiterated that Papali’i was in a bad way.
“It’s not good. He’s in a moon boot, on crutches, so he’ll have to have scans. Really unfortunate,” Marshall said.
Payten went on to say any decision that goes upstairs makes him sweat.
“Every time it goes into a Bunker situation I get nervous. Really nervous,” Payten said.
“I’m sure players feel the same, because a sin-binning changes the complex of the game and it’s so hard to wrestle back momentum.
“With all the camera angles, they can’t be getting that wrong. Amongst other calls as well, it’s just so frustrating.”
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GALVIN
Benji Marshall may be looking to clean out his squad, but one player he could build the future of the club around is Lachlan Galvin.
The 18-year-old half plays beyond his years and while some of the edges to his game still needs smoothing, he has been very impressive.
Galvin finished the game with two try assists, a linebreak assist and four tackle breaks.
He wasn’t just outstanding with ball in hand; the rookie five-eighth stopped Kyle Feldt from completing his hat-trick with a miraculous try-saver that will be on every highlights reel.
HOT START MELTS AWAY
The Cowboys got off to a trademark fast start with three quickfire tries down the right edge and Townsend had the ball on a string, throwing the last pass on all three four-pointers.
But once again the intensity dropped and the Tigers were able to grind their way back into the contest and come away with a Solomon Alaimalo try.
Wests made it back-to-back tries with their next set when Jahream Bula outleapt Drinkwater to double his team’s lead before North Queensland stabilised.
The Cowboys went the first 20 minutes without missing a tackle but finished the half with 17.
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