Valentine Holmes fronts NRL and Cowboys over viral photo of him with bag of white powder

Valentine Holmes has faced NRL and Cowboys officials to explain the alarming photograph of him partying with what appeared to be a white bag in his mouth.

Valentine Holmes has denied using drugs.

Valentine Holmes has declared he is innocent and it was all a joke gone wrong, telling the Cowboys he did not dabble in drugs following an NRL integrity unit investigation into North Queensland’s white-powder saga.

Holmes was formally interviewed by Cowboys bosses and NRL investigators at North Queensland’s headquarters on Monday after an image emerged of the Origin star with what appeared to be a bag of white powder in his mouth.

The image appeared briefly appeared on Holmes’ very own social-media account on Saturday night before being deleted.

The Cowboys made preliminary contact with Holmes on Sunday as a preamble to an official hearing on Monday that included the NRL integrity unit, who probed the Queensland and Australia centre via Zoom.

It is understood Holmes made it clear in the inquiry that he did not use cocaine or any other illicit substance.

He reiterated his stance that the image, which also showed him holding a drink, was simply a puerile prank gone wrong.

Valentine Holmes met with the NRL on Monday. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The Cowboys have provided every assistance to the NRL during the investigation and will now await a final report from the integrity unit to ascertain whether Holmes will be cleared of an allegation of bringing the game into disrepute.

North Queensland and the NRL have come under pressure to drug test Holmes to assist with their probe into the image.

But even if League Central wanted to test the 28-year-old, or any other NRL player for that matter, they are powerless to do so under the code’s illicit testing regime, which dictates players are off-limits during their holiday period.

Holmes officially took annual leave in the days after the Cowboys’ were eliminated from the competition following their 44-12 loss to Penrith on Saturday, September 2.

The NRL wants a swift resolution and is expected to finalise their probe in the coming days.

It is understood Holmes face an allegation of bringing the game into disrepute, which carries hefty fines if made out.

The Instagram image of Valentine Holmes with what appears to be a white bag in his mouth.

If it is made out, whether he will be hit with an additional suspension of matches – as has occurred with previous off-field misdemeanours – will be in the hands of the NRL.

Two years ago, Melbourne trio Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis were banned for one game each and fined a total of $49,000 for their roles in the Storm’s white-powder scandal.

Just weeks after the Storm saga, former Warriors whizkid Reece Walsh, now at the Broncos, was fined $5000 by the NRL and banned for two games after pleading guilty in court to cocaine possession.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten was made aware of the Holmes image on Sunday and is said to be bitterly disappointed, compounding what has been a season to forget for North Queensland.

After reaching last year’s preliminary final, the Cowboys were regarded as possible premiership contenders this season, but they crashed out of the top-eight race this season, finishing 11th, one win out of the playoffs.

Holmes claims it was just an act of skylarking.

It is believed Holmes told the hearing he was skylarking with mates and there was nothing sinister behind the image.

In the image, the former Cronulla premiership-winning winger was seen biting down on a small white bag while holding a drink.

The time-stamp on the image suggests it was posted at 7.42pm on Saturday night and it is believed it was up for several minutes before being deleted.

It was, however, long enough for someone to screenshot the image and begin sharing it on social media.

Holmes missed the closing weeks of the regular season through suspension for a high shot but was expected to be part of Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga’s squad for the upcoming Tri Nations tournament.

But Meninga is known to fiercely protect the national team’s image and has previously refused to consider players for selection if they have given the code a black eye due to poor behaviour.