Cronulla to begin negotiations with Valentine Holmes for long term contract

CRONULLA will begin negotiations to lock down Valentine Holmes on a long-term contract despite the young flyer’s recent arrest.

SHARKS officials will commence negotiations to lock up Valentine Holmes on a long-term contract after the rising star apologised to his club and teammates for delivering the NRL with another black-eye.

Holmes was arrested and fined $1412 for being a public nuisance and obstructing police in Brisbane’s CBD following a late-night bonding session during a Queensland Emerging Origin squad camp last weekend.

The incident has cost Holmes potential representative match earnings of $90,000 by being banned from playing State of Origin for the next 12-months, while the Sharks also suspended the 20-year-old from their squad to compete at the NRL Auckland Nines tournament this weekend.

Declaring the behaviour of Holmes as “out of character”, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, while bitterly disappointed, said the episode wouldn’t sway the club from their long-term plan to secure the exciting winger, who scored 16-tries from 25 appearances last season.

Holmes is contracted at Cronulla until the end of 2017, but aware of interest from rival clubs, Flanagan said negotiations to extend the club’s current deal had been planned before last weekend - and they would continue.

“We’ve come a long way as a club over the past 18 months and to have to deal with this after such a positive off-season for our team, is disappointing,’’ Flanagan said.

“But what’s important is that Val and our entire playing group understand and learn from this incident.

“You don’t work hard all pre-season to then undo all your efforts to bring yourself and your club undone.

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“Perhaps what’s most disappointing is that this isn’t the Val that we know. It is completely out of character and the entire coaching and playing group will support Val through this period as we consider him an influential figure at our club.

“We believe this was a one-off incident and his future remains as bright as ever.

“He’s a player we want at Cronulla in years to come and we’ll start the early discussion of what that entails over the next few weeks.’’

Holmes has been banned from Origin selection for 12 months.

Holmes apologised for his actions in Brisbane on the weekend.

“I’d like to start by saying sorry to the Queensland staff, the players involved in the Origin camp and my Sharks teammates for my actions over the weekend,’’ he said.

“I’d also like to apologise to my Coach, my Club, our Members and our fans for putting them in a bad light.

“This is my first indiscretion of any sort and while I know it is totally unacceptable, I also know it certainly won’t happen again.

“Once again I’m sorry and I’ll be making sure I only give the fans and media good things to write and talk about in the future.”

As a result of Holmes’ suspension from the Nines, NSW State of Origin pathways and Australian Schoolboys hooker Jayden Brailey has been drafted into the Cronulla squad.