Valentine Holmes white bag scandal: NRL investigating Cowboys, Maroons star

Cowboys star Valentine Holmes’ defence to the white bag scandal can be revealed before he holds crisis talks with the Cowboys and NRL officials. SEE THE PICTURE

NRL made aware of a photo involving high profile player with a bag of white powder

Valentine Holmes will deny using cocaine or any illicit substance when the Queensland Origin star holds crisis talks with the Cowboys and NRL officials on Monday.

This masthead can reveal Holmes will meet with the Cowboys for a ‘please explain’ after North Queensland the NRL opened an investigation into the code’s second white-bag saga in two years, though Holmes is staunchly maintaining it was all a joke.

The NRL integrity unit fielded a report from the Cowboys, who were made aware of an image showing the Cowboys centre with a small bag in his mouth, which appeared to contain white powder.

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

This masthead alerted the NRL to the image early on Sunday morning after it was circulated on social media.

It is understood the Cowboys made preliminary contact with Holmes on Sunday as a preamble to a more formal hearing at 11am on Monday with NRL investigators, who will probe the Origin and Test star via Zoom.

Val Holmes with a white bag.

Valentine Holmes. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

Holmes has told those close to him that the image was a puerile prank gone wrong. He will reiterate that sentiment to Cowboys hierarchy and NRL integrity-unit chiefs on Monday, adamant he did not partake in any drug-taking activity.

In the image, the 28-year-old is 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 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.

The Cowboys released a statement confirming they were aware of the photo and would assist the integrity unit with their investigation.

“The North Queensland Cowboys are aware of a photo posted to social media by a Cowboys player this morning,” the statement said.

“The club is conducting an investigation as well as assisting the NRL Integrity Unit.

“The Cowboys will make no further comment until the investigations are completed.”

Melbourne Storm stars Brandon Smith and Cameron Munster (pictured) were involved in a white powder scandal in 2021.

It is unclear what was in the bag. An NRL spokesman confirmed the integrity unit was also aware of the matter.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten was immediately made aware of the image as club officials began their own probe to ascertain the chain of events that led to Holmes being snapped with the white bag in his mouth.

The investigation comes as the Cowboys lick their wounds after a disappointing end to the year.

The club stunned the pundits by reaching the grand-final qualifier last season and the expectation was that the Cowboys would kick on in 2023 as possible premiership winners.

However, they started slowly and missed the top eight, their premiership hopes fizzling out with Holmes watching from the sidelines after he was suspended for the final weeks of the regular season for a high shot.

The NRL has had a drama-free start to end-of-year festivities so far this year. Nine teams were bundled out of the competition last week and the annual Mad Monday antics have been relatively low-key.

The Cowboys were among the sides who spent last week licking their wounds. Holmes’ season, however, may not be over as he remains in contention for selection for Australia’s upcoming Tests against New Zealand and Samoa.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, who fiercely protects the national team’s image, is sure to take a dim view of the incident.

The drama comes two years after the white powder scandal involving Melbourne Storm trio Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis.

The triumvirate were hit with one-game suspensions, plus a suspended fine of $100,000 following images of Munster, Smith and Lewis partying in a Sunshine Coast hotel room with an unknown white substance.

In 2019, Eels forward Shaun Lane labelled himself an “idiot” but denied he was holding drugs in a Mad Monday photo prank gone wrong.

Lane was fined $17,500 after photos emerged of him holding a small plastic bag containing a white substance during Mad Monday celebrations at former club Manly before his move to the Eels.

Originally published as Valentine Holmes white bag scandal: NRL investigating Cowboys, Maroons star