Valentine Holmes sparks Sharks to 30-18 win over Bulldogs
VALENTINE Holmes scored a try and provided three try assists as he once again showed why he is going to be Cronulla’s X-factor in the big end-of-season games.
NRL
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AFTER watching Sharks superstar Val Holmes tear his side apart, Canterbury coach Dean Pay sent an ominous warning: The NRL finals are at a major risk of a Shark attack.
Pay was talking after Cronulla defeated his Bulldogs 30-18 to nail a top-four spot and a finals showdown against minor premiers the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
Just two years after winning their inaugural premiership, a hardened, physical Cronulla are back again.
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And the spark they need will come from the back, through the genius of Holmes, who scored a try and had three try assists.
Holmes is in sublime form, his individual showdown with Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco should be fascinating.
“He’s the grouse,” Cronulla forward Aaron Woods said of Holmes.
Remarkably, Holmes, who didn’t score a try until round six. finished with 21 tries for the season, one behind Warriors winger David Fusitu’a.
“We need him (Holmes) in form if you’re going to go long in the semi-finals, to rely on him to score those tries, make a break, do something special,” Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan said.
Sharks skipper Paul Gallen was equally impressed with Holmes.
“He is a terrific player, we know that,” Gallen said when asked if Holmes was on his way to becoming a Sharks great.
“We’ll call him a club great when he signs a new four-year contract, hopefully.”
Holmes has every skill. He is beautifully balanced and moves with power and style. Pay also took the chance to praise Holmes.
“He (Holmes) is one of the top players in the competition. Billy Slater is retiring, someone has to take that mantle,” Pay said. “He is their go-to. He’s quick and strong, balance with everything he does. He is a quality player.”
And Pay’s compliments didn’t end there.
When asked about Cronulla’s prospects, Pay said: “The Sharks are going to be hard to beat in the competition. They are tough to handle in the ruck, it’s hard to get continuity in your attack and their line speed is really good.
“They will be difficult to beat. They will be right up there.”
Bulldogs skipper Josh Jackson agreed, saying: “I think Cronulla will go close, they’re a tough team and they’re a real semi-final team, their ability to grind out games, they’ll go very close.”
And Cronulla will have to be at their very best to defeat a Roosters side which claimed the NRL minor premiership.
This could be the best of all four finals next weekend. The game will boast 14 Origin players.
“The Roosters were pretty slick last night,” Gallen said of their 44-10 thrashing of Parramatta.
“They’ve got all the names in their side. It will be a big challenge coming up against a star-studded team.
“It’s a new competition next week. We just have to turn up next week and do what we have to do. We just have to play our game, turn up and do our job.”
Cronulla were professional yesterday, doing enough to win a match which essentially had little riding on it, given the were always going to finish fourth.
It came after The Daily Telegraph last week revealed the club was being investigated over alleged salary cap indiscretions.
“They were skilful, really professional in what they had to do. We will have to work really hard this week. It’s a big game but we’re really looking forward to it,” Flanagan said.
“It was a tricky one. I just said to the players, knowing the result didn’t matter that much, we were going to finish fourth, it’s hard in a football player’s preparation, even if they only thought about it once in their preparation, it would be there, embedded in their thoughts.
“I thought they were pretty professional in what they needed to do today and they got it done. Next week is the big show.”
Cronulla scored four first half tries to lead 20-12 at the break.
The led-up to Andrew Fifita’s try in the 17th minute was contentious. It appeared as though Sharks winger Sosaia Feki placed his foot on the sideline while in possession before Fifita scored moments later.
Several decisions weren’t picked up by match officials
It was the final game at Canterbury for Brett Morris (Sydney Roosters), brother Josh (Cronulla) along with Greg Eastwood and Matt Frawley, both unsigned for next season.
Brett scored a second half try in the final match for the Doggies.
“The club means everything to me,” Eastwood said.
While missing the finals, the Bulldogs finished the season well and can look toward next year with renewed and assured confidence.
CRONULLA 30 (S Feki 2 K Capewell J Dugan A Fifita V Holmes tries V Holmes 3 goals) bt CANTERBURY 18 (W Hopoate M Lichaa B Morris tries R Martin 3 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Chris Sutton, Grant Atkins. Crowd: 14,189
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