Winging it: Holmes, Maroons search for best in the west

The Advertiser

20 hours ago

The next generation is circling and Valentine Holmes isn't taking his Queensland jersey for granted, confident a move back to the centres can spark something.
The Maroons veteran will play his 21st State of Origin game in Perth on Wednesday, named in the centres in a swap with winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow following the series-opening loss.
Melbourne centre Jack Howarth's (22) inclusion in the squad as a reserve has kept the heat on the 29-year-old Holmes, whose pinpoint goal-kicking offers additional selection security.
But captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans' axing after the one-sided Brisbane loss was proof Holmes said he didn't need of Origin's cut-throat nature.
"Definitely, it's always something that we're thinking about," he said of the prospect that Wednesday could be his last Origin appearance.
"It's a jersey that's earnt, no matter what you've done in the past.
"You've got to be playing quality footy and up to the Queensland standards … Billy's (Slater) done a good job of making sure we're really earning that jersey.
"After any loss … it's always about if you feel like you've done enough to earn your spot again."
Holmes played eight consecutive Origin games in the centres before shifting back to the wing for last year's decider.
He and fellow winger Xavier Coates struggled to work the ball out of their defensive corners in Brisbane as the Blues dominated the first-half territory battle.
"You'll have to ask Bill (Slater) but it's probably more so that I play centre for club and want to bring my strengths back into the game and what I do for the Dragons," Holmes said of the reasons behind the switch that he hopes will also unlock Tabuai-Fidow.
"That could be part of the change there, getting him more open ball … catching kicks or handing off from KP (Kalyn Ponga), he has space to do his thing."
Coach Slater has also tinkered with his forward pack, Trent Loiero and the recalled Kurt Capewell named to start with Pat Carrigan shifted to the bench.
That will matter little though if the Maroons piggy-back the Blues with early penalties as they did in Brisbane.
"We left a lot of opportunities out there and felt like we fell into NSW's style of footy," Coates said.
"It was tough to watch (the review), just knowing how many opportunities we left out there.
"But we didn't play a very smart brand of footy. With aggression we need to be disciplined ... controlled aggression and being smart with our footy."
The next generation is circling and Valentine Holmes isn't taking his Queensland jersey for granted, confident a move back to the centres can spark something.
The Maroons veteran will play his 21st State of Origin game in Perth on Wednesday, named in the centres in a swap with winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow following the series-opening loss.
Melbourne centre Jack Howarth's (22) inclusion in the squad as a reserve has kept the heat on the 29-year-old Holmes, whose pinpoint goal-kicking offers additional selection security.
But captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans' axing after the one-sided Brisbane loss was proof Holmes said he didn't need of Origin's cut-throat nature.
"Definitely, it's always something that we're thinking about," he said of the prospect that Wednesday could be his last Origin appearance.
"It's a jersey that's earnt, no matter what you've done in the past.
"You've got to be playing quality footy and up to the Queensland standards … Billy's (Slater) done a good job of making sure we're really earning that jersey.
"After any loss … it's always about if you feel like you've done enough to earn your spot again."
Holmes played eight consecutive Origin games in the centres before shifting back to the wing for last year's decider.
He and fellow winger Xavier Coates struggled to work the ball out of their defensive corners in Brisbane as the Blues dominated the first-half territory battle.
"You'll have to ask Bill (Slater) but it's probably more so that I play centre for club and want to bring my strengths back into the game and what I do for the Dragons," Holmes said of the reasons behind the switch that he hopes will also unlock Tabuai-Fidow.
"That could be part of the change there, getting him more open ball … catching kicks or handing off from KP (Kalyn Ponga), he has space to do his thing."
Coach Slater has also tinkered with his forward pack, Trent Loiero and the recalled Kurt Capewell named to start with Pat Carrigan shifted to the bench.
That will matter little though if the Maroons piggy-back the Blues with early penalties as they did in Brisbane.
"We left a lot of opportunities out there and felt like we fell into NSW's style of footy," Coates said.
"It was tough to watch (the review), just knowing how many opportunities we left out there.
"But we didn't play a very smart brand of footy. With aggression we need to be disciplined ... controlled aggression and being smart with our footy."
The next generation is circling and Valentine Holmes isn't taking his Queensland jersey for granted, confident a move back to the centres can spark something.
The Maroons veteran will play his 21st State of Origin game in Perth on Wednesday, named in the centres in a swap with winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow following the series-opening loss.
Melbourne centre Jack Howarth's (22) inclusion in the squad as a reserve has kept the heat on the 29-year-old Holmes, whose pinpoint goal-kicking offers additional selection security.
But captain and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans' axing after the one-sided Brisbane loss was proof Holmes said he didn't need of Origin's cut-throat nature.
"Definitely, it's always something that we're thinking about," he said of the prospect that Wednesday could be his last Origin appearance.
"It's a jersey that's earnt, no matter what you've done in the past.
"You've got to be playing quality footy and up to the Queensland standards … Billy's (Slater) done a good job of making sure we're really earning that jersey.
"After any loss … it's always about if you feel like you've done enough to earn your spot again."
Holmes played eight consecutive Origin games in the centres before shifting back to the wing for last year's decider.
He and fellow winger Xavier Coates struggled to work the ball out of their defensive corners in Brisbane as the Blues dominated the first-half territory battle.
"You'll have to ask Bill (Slater) but it's probably more so that I play centre for club and want to bring my strengths back into the game and what I do for the Dragons," Holmes said of the reasons behind the switch that he hopes will also unlock Tabuai-Fidow.
"That could be part of the change there, getting him more open ball … catching kicks or handing off from KP (Kalyn Ponga), he has space to do his thing."
Coach Slater has also tinkered with his forward pack, Trent Loiero and the recalled Kurt Capewell named to start with Pat Carrigan shifted to the bench.
That will matter little though if the Maroons piggy-back the Blues with early penalties as they did in Brisbane.
"We left a lot of opportunities out there and felt like we fell into NSW's style of footy," Coates said.
"It was tough to watch (the review), just knowing how many opportunities we left out there.
"But we didn't play a very smart brand of footy. With aggression we need to be disciplined ... controlled aggression and being smart with our footy."