Summer Buzz: Cronulla Sharks face battle to hold on to young gun Valentine Holmes

SUMMER BUZZ: The Cronulla Sharks have a battle on their hands trying to keep rival clubs from poaching a superstar-in-the-making.

Valentine Holmes during Cronulla rugby league training at Cronulla, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

THE Cronulla Sharks have a battle on their hands trying to keep rival clubs from poaching a superstar-in-the-making.

Plus check out the Saint and Sinner in this week’s edition of Summer Buzz.

SHOOSH

THE Cronulla Sharks have a battle on their hands trying to keep rival clubs from poaching superstar-in-the-making Valentine Holmes.

The future Queensland player can play fullback, centre or wing and with the Sharks signalling Jack Bird will get first crack at the No. 1 jumper, rival clubs will no doubt look to exploit the opportunity.

We’ve heard some clubs are already asking about Holmes, who is on contract until the end of 2017.

SAINT

UZI Khawaja is the perfect example of how persistence, practice and an iron will always carry plenty of cut-through when it comes to delivering in any walk of life.

Khawaja has chosen this summer as his moment to deliver on the big stage, starting by blasting centuries in the Test team before getting injured and then setting the Big Bash semi-finals alight.

Big names win big games.

The Thunder will be hoping Uzi can continue his superb hitting against the Stars in Sunday night’s Big Bash final.

MORE SUMMER BUZZ: Bulldogs lock star trio to long-term deals

MORE SUMMER BUZZ: Left-field contender to captain Panthers

SINNER

AT the polar opposite end of the spectrum, Nick Kyrgios continues to give Australia ample reasoning to consider him a complete imbecile.

This bloke is fast becoming the most despised athlete in the country due to his dribbling temper tantrums and arrogant on-court attitude.

Kyrgios should take a lesson from the way Khawaja carries himself. Humility is a wonderful quality, especially in superstar athletes.

Rival clubs are already asking about Sharks young gun Valentine Holmes. Picture: Brett Costello

CHOOKS GO BACK TO SCHOOL

THE Sydney Roosters have spent the past 72 hours on a pre-season camp at the renowned junior rugby league nursery St Gregory’s College at Campbelltown.

The school has long been regarded as one of the top breeding grounds for rugby league, with the honour roll including Trent Barrett, the late Jack Gibson, Chris Lawrence, Alex McKinnon, Eric Grothe Jr, Ryan Hoffman, Mick Potter, Jason Taylor, Tim Sheens and James Tedesco. The Sydney Roosters premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson was the school captain.

BIG GUNS PAY RESPECTS

A WHO’S who of rugby league royalty turned out to farewell Robert Bruce Gould, the father of Penrith Panthers general manager and Channel 9 heavyweight Phil Gould, at Gledswood Homestead and Winery in Camden last Wednesday.

Sporting heavy hitters including Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis, Immortal Bob Fulton, Ricky Stuart, Brad Fittler and Channel 9’s Steve Crawley all paid their respects at the funeral.