The tiny moment that showed Valentine Holmes had become a real fullback
IT didn’t win a match or even put the Sharks in the lead. Most fans probably didn’t notice it. But there was one moment that proved Valentine Holmes has come of age as an NRL fullback.
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IT’S the moment Cronulla’s Valentine Holmes came of age as an NRL fullback.
The Sharks were up 24-16 in round 23 and attacking North Queensland’s line with less than a minute remaining.
Hooker James Segeyaro fed the ball to first receiver Holmes, who threw a sharp cut-out pass for Jayson Bukuya to dive over and score.
It was an impressive play but not a matchwinning one, so its significance was largely missed.
But his teammates noticed — Holmes had found his “voice”.
Playmaker Chad Townsend said Holmes had demanded he receive the ball on the short side, something he would not have done 12 months before.
“The biggest thing I have noticed is that he has found his voice a lot more,’’ Townsend said ahead of tomorrow night’s semi-final against the Penrith Panthers at Allianz Stadium.
“In defence the fullback has a big role in organising the defensive line but it has been more so in attack.
“One of the games towards the back end of the year I heard him overcall the ball on a short side and he hit the winger and we scored a try.
“Val probably would not have done that last year, so to see him do that and execute and call the ball and demand it and fire it to the winger and the winger scored ... I think that was a real big stepping stone in the evolution of his game.
“Immediately I went up to him and said ‘mate, don’t take that stuff lightly, that’s a big step for you’.
“That was the moment I thought he was evolving into a fullback.”
Those who have played with or coached Holmes never questioned he had the talent to make it as a fullback.
It was a matter of finding the on-field temperament and self-assurance required to speak up, which is a crucial part of any fullback’s repertoire.
After spending time under the tutelage of Billy Slater during Origin this year, Holmes was no longer intimidated by the depth of experience at Cronulla.
“I just feel like in this team there are a lot of older players that have a voice,” Holmes, 23, said.
“I’m still pretty young and I didn’t want to come into the team thinking you’re all that. I wanted to bid my time.
“Everyone always told me to talk up more but that wasn’t my persona and I’ve learned that now coming out of Origin.
“Listening to Billy and all those boys talk a lot, that showed me you have to be a talker to be a leader.”