State of Origin 2018: Queensland’s new look backline means Valentine Holmes will face Josh Addo-Carr
WITH a backline shake-up in the wake of Greg Inglis’ withdrawal, Maroons winger Valentine Holmes will be facing off against NSW flyer Josh Addo-Carr with one simple plan: stop him.
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VALENTINE Holmes is confident Queensland’s reconstructed backline can muzzle NSW’s speed machines as the Maroons attempt to stave off a 3-0 series rout without skipper Greg Inglis.
Inglis’ withdrawal with a broken thumb has forced a shake-up of the Maroons’ three-quarter line for Origin III, with Holmes shifting to the right wing to mark up against the NRL’s fastest man, NSW flyer Josh Addo-Carr.
Holmes’ move leaves Queensland with a new-look left edge as centre Dane Gagai and recalled winger Corey Oates prepare to oppose NSW dangermen James Roberts and Tom Trbojevic.
Queensland held their first training run at Sanctuary Cove on Thursday. At times it was patchy, with centre Will Chambers, outclassed by NSW rival Latrell Mitchell in the first two games, grassing a ball on a backline shift.
But overall, the session was drama-free, with new Queensland No.7 Daly Cherry-Evans calling the shots with confidence as the Maroons look to avoid their first Blue-rinse in 18 years.
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Holmes has scored six tries in four games on Queensland’s left wing, but says he will have no issues on the right flank, even if he is wary of the attacking threat posed by Addo-Carr.
“I’m not confident I’m as fast as him (Addo-Carr), so I’ll be wary, I’ll be watching where he is,” Holmes said.
“I will always have my eyes on him but I also have to look at their inside man, Latrell (Mitchell), and make sure Chambers sticks on him.
“If I can keep Addo-Carr to no tries that would be great.
“I’m not too fazed on where I’m playing, everyone knows I play right side for Cronulla so I’ve been there before.
“I have to learn to play outside Chambers and Daly Cherry-Evans. We’ve had our first training session and I felt we were pretty good on that right edge.
“They (NSW) played really well in the first two games of the series. We all know how fast ‘Foxy’ (Addo-Carr) is, so I will be wary and not show him the sideline if I can.”
Gagai faces a potentially more daunting task — replacing Inglis and shutting down Roberts — but Oates is determined for Queensland’s rejigged left side not to be the side’s Achilles heel.
“’Gags’ is a talented player, it will be hard playing outside him and trying to keep up,” Oates said.
“I rate myself as a quick winger, but whether I get burnt or not (by Trbojevic), we’ll find out.
“I’ll try and get up in their face and shut their speed down, but both ‘Jimmy’ (Roberts) and Trbojevic have great skill.”
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Originally published as State of Origin 2018: Queensland’s new look backline means Valentine Holmes will face Josh Addo-Carr