Valentine Holmes' breaks Sharks hearts as Cowboys win 93-minute thriller

Valentine Holmes was one of the Sharks' favourite sons but a 45m dagger after 93 minutes has left him Cronulla's biggest villain.

The two surprise packets of the 2022 season have played out an absolute thriller in their qualifying final as North Queensland Cowboys broke the hearts of the Cronulla Sharks in a wild 32-30 golden point shootout at PointsBet Stadium.

The sides were left 30-all at full-time, forcing 10 minutes of extra-time rather than golden point, meaning a single point wouldn't have ended it.

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Down 30-22 with 13 minutes left, the Cowboys were handed a lifeline when Connor Tracey was sin binned for tackling Valentine Holmes without the ball. 

It was not given as a penalty try, but Tracey was given his marching order.

After converting for a 30-24 scoreline, the Cowboys scored with seconds left in the half through a rampaging run from captain Jason Taumalolo and Holmes converted to make it 30-all.

Both teams were desperate for the win, which would give them a week off, while the other side would have to go the hard way, playing the winner of tomorrow's Roosters-Rabbitohs clash for a chance to play the Panthers in the preliminary final.

It meant extra-time was scoreless, setting up golden point after 90 minutes of cracking finals action.

That was until the 93rd minute when former Sharks premiership hero drilled a 45m dagger through Cronulla's hearts, booting a two-point field goal to send North Queensland into the grand final qualifier.

Valentine Holmes seals an absolute thriller. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Holmes showed up in three of the biggest moments of the game.

In the 63rd minute, it looked as though Cronulla had finally struck a decisive blow when Connor Tracey crossed in the corner but the Bunker called it back for obstruction when Valentine Holmes hit the deck with minimal impact from Jesse Ramien.

Cam Smith said: "He could have stayed on his feet and competed for the tackle. That's what the game has done, you might slight contact with any defensive player it's a penalty."

Paul Vautin was furious.

"That's a stitch up. That's a try every day of the week," he said.

Smith replied: "As the rule books goes Jesse Ramien rubbed the outside shoulder of Valentine Holmes. It's the slightest of touches, but it's been an obstruction all year."

When Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston said: "I think the Sharkies were really hard done by there. Yes he runs to the outside shoulder, I think Valentine Holmes needs an Academy Award for that."

Vautin added: "Maybe a Logie".

The Sharks scored soon after to make it 30-22 but the door reopened when Tracey tackled Holmes as he went for a try. Tracey was sin binned with eight-minutes left on the clock, in what was a controversial call.

After the game, Sharks half Nicho Hynes said: "I thought we done enough to win that game and it's a bit hard done by I reckon that sin bin, rule is shoulder to shoulder... you still have to defend your line".

Brad Fittler agreed Tracey hedged his bets, taking Holmes while trying to swing at the ball.

"I felt he was going both ways, getting his arm in there," he said. "I think it was fairly legitimate. The refs and bunker was put that a tough situation. The fact he went into Valentine Holmes uses his body to push I am had, sways it for a sin bin and a professional foul."

The Cowboys stormed back through Taumalolo's try and sent the game to extra-time before Holmes stepped up to nail the winner.

Fans were loving the overtime clash.

This game is that entertaining I think they should just keep playing until the council says the lights have to go out 🤣🤣🤣🤣#NRLSharksCowboys #NRLFinals

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) September 10, 2022

90 minutes and counting in Cronulla.

30-30 and now unlimited golden point.

Hell of a finals game this. #NRLSharksCowboys

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) September 10, 2022

This will finish just in time for #NRLRoostersRabbitohs tmrw. #NRLSharksCowboys

— Tim Barrow (@TheBarrow) September 10, 2022

Game of the season. That had everything. Cowboys are one win away from the grand final (things you never thought you’d say in 2022). The New York Jets don’t know what they’re missing in Val Holmes #NRLSharksCowboys

— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) September 10, 2022

Originally published as Valentine Holmes' breaks Sharks hearts as Cowboys win 93-minute thriller

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