Kangaroos star Valentine Holmes says he’s ready to be Cronulla Sharks No. 1

BEN BARBA has apologised to his Sharks teammates over his second positive drug test which took some of the gloss off Cronulla’s historic first NRL premiership.

Valentine Holmes has revealed Ben Barba has apologised to his former Sharks teammates.

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BEN BARBA has apologised to his Sharks teammates over his second positive drug test which took some of the gloss off Cronulla’s historic first NRL premiership.

Kangaroos winger Valentine Holmes has revealed Barba has told his Cronulla comrades he wants to return to the NRL after undergoing treatment for anxiety-related problems in Thailand at The Cabin rehabilitation centre in Chiang Mai and serving his 12-match suspension.

While Holmes is in England preparing for the Four Nations final, he has kept in contact with Barba and said he was in a good frame of mind.

Ben Barba celebrates with Valentine Holmes after scoring a try.

“We’ve got a WhatsApp group,” Holmes said. “We’ve all been supporting him. He is doing pretty well. He said he is sorry and it’s unfortunate what’s happened and he is going to work on it and come back bigger, stronger and better. All the boys in Sydney have gone to see him before he left.”

Cronulla forward Wade Graham said Barba’s NRL career should not be the main focus.

“Playing footy, that needs to be secondary for Benny and as mates, we need to show him that the only priority that we care about is him being healthy, in mind and body,’’ he said.

“You ask me if I want to see him play with us again? Of course I do. But we all need to be mindful that some things in life are bigger than playing football.

“Lyall (Gorman), the board and the football department will handle whatever the next steps are for Benny, I’ll just be here if ever needs an ear.’’

Valentine Holmes celebrates after the Sharks win the 2016 grand final.

Holmes declared he is ready to wear the No. 1 jersey vacated by Barba and pledged his commitment to be a long-term Shark.

Ironically, it was a dinner with Barba which helped convinced the Kangaroos winger to remain at Cronulla. Battling homesickness, Holmes had booked a plane ticket and packed his bags to return to his Townsville home in 2013 before Barba intervened.

“We have the same manager (Gavin Orr) so he brought him to dinner with me because of what was happening with my homesickness,” Holmes said. “He explained how he did it when he left Mackay to play for the Bulldogs. That helped.

“He is someone I looked up to and would like to inspire to play like. It was good having him at the club and to learn from him.”

Cronulla's Ben Barba celebrates with Cronulla's Valentine Holmes.

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is likely to give Holmes the chance to play fullback on a permanent basis ahead of centre Jack Bird. Holmes spent last off-season training at fullback but made his mark on the wing when Barba was given the custodian’s role.

“It’s unfortunate what’s happened with Ben but I’m happy to step up and take that role if I get the opportunity,” Holmes said. “I played most of my juniors (at fullback). It’s defence, organising the middles where to go and getting the numbers right (that I have to learn). That will come with pre-season and throughout the year.”

Holmes is poised to ink a long-term contract with Cronulla. Officially a free agent for the 2018 season, the Queenslander is among the NRL’s most sought after players.

Even though he considered escaping before he even made his NRL debut, he now considers the Sutherland Shire home.

Valentine Holmes in action for the Kangaroos.

“I love Cronulla,” Holmes said. “It’s a great spot. I feel like it’s my home now. It’s where I want to play. I feel like I play my best footy there. I won’t be going anywhere.

“It’s a matter of me when I get back and organising it all. I still have another year so I have plenty of time. I won’t be making any rash decisions while I’m here. I’m just focusing on the Australian team. When I get back to Sydney I’ll focus on the contract.”

Holmes has revelled in the opportunity to play outside one of his idols in Greg Inglis, forming a potent left-edge combination for the Kangaroos. Having already tasted premiership success, Holmes can cap a dream 2016 with a Four Nations victory against New Zealand on Monday.

“It’s been a pretty amazing year,” Holmes said. “We’ve got that premiership and to get selected in this — it’s not something I thought I would make. It was a dream and a goal but not for this year.”

Originally published as Kangaroos star Valentine Holmes says he’s ready to be Cronulla Sharks No. 1