NRL 2020: Valentine Holmes sidelined for months with ankle injury
Valentine Holmes may be sidelined for the rest of the season after the Cowboys’ $5.8 million man was struck down by a serious injury.
NRL
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Valentine Holmes’ season may be over after the North Queensland star suffered a serious ankle injury.
Holmes underwent an arthroscopy on his left ankle yesterday that confirmed he had an unstable syndesmosis, which required the ligament to be repaired. The club confirmed he will be out for between 8-10 weeks.
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The Cowboys recruit was moved from fullback to the wing for last Thursday’s loss to the Roosters because of concerns over his mobility following an ankle issue he sustained in round five against the Warriors.
But Holmes twisted his ankle 41 minutes into the clash with the tri-colours and was forced from the field.
Former NRL star Jamie Soward blasted Cowboys coach Paul Green for picking Holmes when he knew the 24-year-old was already struggling with an ankle problem.
RELATED: Soward fumes over Holmes treatment
#valholmes shouldn’t be playing. They pushed him to the wing to protect him and now it’s probably worse. I just don’t get it. #cowboys
— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) July 9, 2020
Players always want to play. Even when injured I always wanted to play. At the end of the day a STRONG coach will do what’s best for the player and not worry about the team because he knows playing a guy injured isn’t for everyone. If vals out a long time now.... then wat?
— Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) July 9, 2020
Holmes was the world’s best winger when he was playing for Cronulla, becoming a try-scoring machine for Queensland and Australia. But he quit the Sharks to chase a career in the NFL, only to return to rugby league with the Cowboys this season when his fling with the New York Jets didn’t work out.
Holmes, who hails from North Queensland, came home on a monster deal reportedly worth $5.8 million over six years. Despite his freakish talents on the wing, he wanted to play fullback and the Cowboys were happy to pay him the big bucks reserved for key position players.
However, Holmes hasn’t found the form that made him such a weapon at Cronulla. Before his injury he was still finding his feet in the NRL and hadn’t developed into the dominant fullback the Cowboys need.
The Cowboys are 12th on the ladder, winning just three of nine games in 2020.
Originally published as NRL 2020: Valentine Holmes sidelined for months with ankle injury