North Queensland clear the decks for Valentine Holmes with $3 million clean-out
THE Cowboys have presided over a $3 million clean-out of their roster as North Queensland free-up funds to launch a big-money poaching raid on Sharks sensation Valentine Holmes.
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THE Cowboys have presided over a $3 million clean-out of their roster as North Queensland free-up funds to launch a big-money poaching raid on Sharks sensation Valentine Holmes.
North Queensland’s internal review, conducted by new head-of-football Peter Parr, has triggered change with almost a third of the Cowboys’ full-time squad being moved on for next season.
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Rated premiership contenders in pre-season, the Cowboys endured a disastrous 2018 campaign, crashing to 13th, prompting chairman Laurence Lancini to order a review of football operations.
A shake-up of the Cowboys’ roster has ensued, with nine players not on North Queensland’s books for 2019.
Champion playmaker Johnathan Thurston and veteran winger Antonio Winterstein have retired, while the Cowboys have not offered new contracts to 2015 premiership winners Kane Linnett and Lachlan Coote, who has joined St Helens.
Tireless forward Shaun Fensom has been jettisoned — just 12 months after he suffered a shocking leg injury in the NRL grand final after helping the Cowboys to the decider against Melbourne.
Others shown the door in the Cowboys clean-out are playmaker Kyle Laybutt, prop Sam Hoare, young centre Shaun Hudson and luckless hooker Josh Chudleigh, who has suffered a series of major knee injuries.
The overhaul gives North Queensland significant financial latitude under the salary cap to embark on a regeneration of the club’s roster.
The Cowboys will sign former Dally M star Ben Barba to a one-year deal worth around $500,000, still leaving more than $2 million for the club to make a big-money play for Queensland Origin flyer Holmes.
The Sharks have offered Holmes a five-year package worth at least $4 million, but it is understood the Maroons ace wants to return to Townsville and the Cowboys are confident of snaring him for 2020.
The Cowboys cannot table a formal contract for Holmes until November 1. An offer upwards of $800,000 annually will be more than competitive with Cronulla’s package as part of North Queensland’s plan for Holmes to be their next long-term fullback.
Former co-captain Thurston is adamant the Cowboys can bounce back quickly, scuppering suggestions his retirement will leave the 2015 premiers in the doldrums.
“There will still be a lot of success for this club in the future,” Thurston said.
“With the players we have coming through and the players we’ve had on the sidelines this year through injury, guys like Michael Morgan and Jordan McLean, I’m confident we can make the finals (in 2019).”
New head-of-football Parr recently told The Sunday Mail complacency wouldn’t be tolerated in the Cowboys’ mission to rebuild the club.
“There will be changes to the roster,” he said.
“There’s no doubt the key to our turnaround rests with the players. They are the ones who run out there and play so they have to be part of the bounce back.
“But I will take responsibility as well.
“It’s my job to make sure the players get the support they need and the environment we provide for them and the coach is just as critical.”
Originally published as North Queensland clear the decks for Valentine Holmes with $3 million clean-out