Former Brumbies and Waratahs No.9 Josh Holmes given Super Rugby lifeline by Rebels

WARRINGAH halfback Josh Holmes could revive his Super Rugby career within weeks after signing a short-term deal with Melbourne Rebels.

Holmes has been in sparkling form for Warringah this season.

WARRINGAH halfback Josh Holmes could revive his Super Rugby career within weeks after signing a short-term deal with Melbourne Rebels.

One of the most dominant players in the opening month of the Shute Shield, Holmes was whisked to Melbourne from Sydney this week to join the Rebels squad after halfback Nick Stirzaker injured his ankle during last week’s defeat to the Sharks.

Holmes, once mooted as the successor to George Gregan, has not played Super Rugby since turning out for Western Force in 2012 but is determined to finally deliver on his potential.

“It is a really exciting prospect, that’s why I jumped at it straight away,” Holmes told the Daily Telegraph.

“I will work really hard down here and if I get the chance, I’ll play like I have been for Warringah.

“When I was younger, I didn’t take the opportunities I had, I didn’t play the way I know I can.

“I have been training hard and doing the little extras, and I’ve been happy with how I’ve been going.”

Holmes, 27, credits a settled life off the field for his brilliance on it.

He married girlfriend Sarah in January and has received support from his employer Global Gaming to pursue his rugby goals.

Holmes has signed a three-week deal with the Rebels, but will continue to work from Melbourne when he is not training.

“Work has been very helpful, they have supported me 100 per cent,” Holmes said.

“It is an unreal job and it has set me up in a really good way away from rugby.

“I got married in January, it has been a pretty perfect match, getting into a good, stable job and getting married.

“So away from footy it has all been really good, I have a really good balance off the field and I’ve been enjoying my time with Warringah.”

Holmes debuted for the Waratahs in 2007 before making a highly publicised switch to the Brumbies the following year deputising for Gregan.

He was expected to replace the great Wallaby No.9 but after two seasons of limited game time he returned to NSW, battling Luke Burgess for the starting role before moving to France for a season.

Ironically, Holmes will now battle Burgess for the Rebels No.9 jersey, along with Melbourne’s other fit halfback Ben Meehan.

With Stirzaker tipped to miss a few weeks due to his injury, Holmes is one more misfortune away from re-entering the Super Rugby fray, and is in line to come up against former teams NSW and the Brumbies, who play the Rebels over the next three weeks.

It means the high-flying Rats will miss their chief back over a crucial period of the Shute Shield.

Warringah lost their first game of the season last weekend against leaders Manly, and face a tricky assignment this afternoon against West Harbour at Concord Oval.

In another round seven game, Eastwood host Parramatta, who will unveil new Waratahs signing Taqele Naiyaravaro at inside centre. The 190cm, 120kg former Wests Tigers winger will be looking to impress in his first rugby game on Australian soil in a bid to gain selection for NSW in the latter half of the Super Rugby competition.

The rest of the games on Saturday are: Gordon vs Sydney University at Chatswood Oval; Penrith vs Eastern Suburbs at Nepean Rugby Park; and Randwick vs Southern Districts at Coogee Oval.

On Sunday, Northern Suburbs host Manly at North Sydney Oval in a match that will be streamed live on clubrugbytv.com.au.