Valentine Holmes puts memory of Storm shocker behind him ahead of NRL grand final

IT was the horror night that left a rare blemish on Valentine Holmes’ season. There was nowhere to hide as the Sharks star had a good old-fashioned shocker.

IT was the horror night of football that left a rare blemish on Valentine Holmes’ season.

The Cronulla flyer bombed not one but three tries in a forgettable performance against Sunday’s grand final opponents during their grinding round-four clash.

There was nowhere to hide for Holmes that Easter Monday night. He had a good old-fashioned shocker.

The only saving grace was that the Sharks came away with a 14-6 win over the Storm at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

The Daily Telegraph match report that night captured the 21-year-old’s misery:

Holmes received a cut-out pass on the chest from Chad Townsend in the first half, but watched the ball spill over the sideline. Then from an identical spot approaching the break, and with nobody to beat, Holmes again failed to cling on to a Jack Bird pass.

Melbourne opposite Marika Koroibete completed the hat-trick of botched chances when he smashed Holmes into touch during the second half with the tryline in sight.

He also dropped a Cooper Cronk chip kick close to half-time when the Sharks trailed 6-4.

“I dropped a few balls that night. I guess I wasn’t concentrating on what we were doing. There was some off-field stuff happening,” said Holmes, who wouldn’t elaborate.

Valentine Holmes drops the ball with the line wide open. Picture: Fox Sports

“I can’t really remember much. My head wasn’t there, I just wasn’t there that night.

“I needed to fix my head space. I was thinking about stuff too much. I wasn’t worried about the game. Luckily enough the boys got the job done and we got away with the win.”

It took a half-time talk from coach Shane Flanagan and assistant Steve Price to refocus Holmes.

“They could sense I wasn’t in the game,” Holmes said.

“I switched back on in the second half and tried to play better than I did in the first half.

“Everyone has an off game. I fixed it, I have turned that around this season. You have to be mentally switched on game day and be ready for anything.

“I only dropped a few balls. I made it better in the second half.”

On Sunday — on rugby league’s grandest stage no less — Holmes has the chance to exorcise those demons, and create some history.

Valentine Holmes has the chance to bounce back from his Storm shocker. Picture. Phil Hillyard

He will play a key role in the Sharks’ bid for their first premiership and, with 19 tries in 2016, is a chance of surpassing Cronulla great David Peachey’s 1999 single-season mark.

“I have been happy with how I have been going this year,” Holmes said.

“I am equal with Peachey, so that is some plus and a good thing.”

The Storm, though, will no doubt remember that March match and heap pressure on Holmes with Cronk and Cameron Smith’s lethal kicking game.

“They are a well-structured team. They have a few great players there. Their forwards and obviously Cronk and Smith,” Holmes said.

“They’re a tough team and we love going up against them. They are grinding team like us. It will probably come down to the 80th minute.”

Valentine Holmes has scored 19 tries in 2016. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Rather than be overawed by the prospect of playing in a decider in just his third season, Holmes is revelling in grand final week in the Shire.

“I can’t wait, I’m just soaking up this week, I’m enjoying it with the boys and staff and just waiting for the day to come,” Holmes said.

“I don’t like to be nervous. Mick Ennis, ‘Gal’, (Paul Gallen) ‘Wado’ (Wade Graham), they are all very confident and they handle us young boys that haven’t played in a big occasion like this really well. They have played Origin and finals as well.”