Valentine Holmes scores controversial try to open scoring in Origin Game 2

Where the bunker is involved, controversy always follows, and Origin fans are blowing up over this divisive try.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 21: Valentine Holmes of the Maroons scores a try during game two of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on June 21, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Only 10 minutes into a do-or-die Game 2, and the bunker is already under attack after Valentine Holmes converted a crumb forced by Xavier Coates in the corner to put Queensland 4-0 up at Lang Park.

Charging up the field after the Blues lost Tom Trbojevic to a pectoral injury in the opening clashes, Daly Cherry-Evans kicked for Coates upfield.

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Coates was challenged underneath the high ball by Josh Addo-Carr, replacing Brian To’o on the left in a switch from Brad Fittler to negate Coates’ aerial ability.

Both Coates and Addo-Carr reached out for the ball, and as it fell, it appeared to catch Coates’ outstretched fingers on the way down, before bouncing into the in-goal for Valentine Holmes to sneak around and pick up the crumbs with a haphazard try attempt.

Valentine Holmes scores the FIRST try of Origin II - but only after a LENGTHY review! 👀

🖥️ #Origin II | Exclusive on Channel 9 and 9Now: https://t.co/Bll2LnrWOR#9WWOS#NRLpic.twitter.com/L8xVd3uP7l

— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 21, 2023

It was originally ruled no try by referee Ashley Klein, with Holmes himself looking uncertain of his own attempt despite celebrating.

After a long examination in the bunker, it was ruled that Coates had not knocked on the high ball, despite slow-motion footage appearing to show his fingers rebounding from the impact of the Steeden, and that Valentine Holmes had successfully grounded the ball.

Holmes himself went on to miss the wide conversion, leaving the Maroons 4-0 up after 10 minutes.

Social media was divided over the try, with both the try attempt and knock-on debate lighting up fans’ Twitter accounts.

Xavier Coates’ fingers appeared to bend backwards because of the ball.

This controversial moment soured the first try of Game 2.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Christian Nicolussi was unconvinced, saying it “WASN’T a try”.

“Valentine Holmes bounced it,” Nicolussi insisted.

“Even Val didn’t look convinced.”

The Yorkshire Post’s rugby league correspondent James O’Brien simply asked “Is Wally Lewis manning the bunker?”

Western Advocate journalist Bradley Jurd said “my hopes weren’t high going into this match, but oh boy getting no favours from the bunker.”

“No try every day of the week,” Jurd said.

The Maroons would continue to pile on the pain despite glimmers of magic from a desperate New South Wales outfit led by a charging Mitchell Moses, with Murray Taulagi breaking through three men to put down another try, dutifully converted by Valentine Holmes to take Queensland up 10-0 heading into the break.

Originally published as Valentine Holmes scores controversial try to open scoring in Origin Game 2