St George Illawarra Dragons coaching and supporting crews are holding their breathes for North Queensland Cowboys star centre, Valentine Holmes, whom is contracted to the Dragons from 2025, after he collapsed in his team’s elimination semi final against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
The star Origin representative put on an all-time finals display for his team, scoring two tries, leading the Cowboys in line breaks and racking up 153 running metres.
Trailing the Sharks 26-18 with less than three minutes remaining, the Cowboys struggled to get into opposing territory and when fifth tackle come about, halfback Jake Clifford opted for a bomb in hopes of an unforced error to potentially keep them in the game.
However the Cowboys kick chase was left staggered as Holmes seemingly collapsed at the half way line, clutching at his leg.
Channel Nine Commentators Peter Psaltis and Cameron Smith were coincidentally on the topic of Holmes and his prior ankle injury before and as he went down.
“They gotta try get Val Holmes one-on-one with Jesse Ramien” Smith said.
“We all know he’s carried that ankle injury into this game… those pain-killing needles have worn off.
“Oh, he’s gone down”.
“Val Holmes has gone down, he’s put the hand up as well” Psaltis said.
At first glance, it seemed Holmes was clutching his calf and had possibly sustained an achilles injury, which would have been terrible news for St George fans with him moving to the Illawarra from next season.
Cowboys head coach Todd Payton shared the information he had received regarding Holmes’ condition in the post-game press conference.
“Unsure at the moment, he copped a knock when he scored the try” Payton said.
“[I’ll] have to talk further to the medical team, but he’s on crutches.
“Poor way for him to end too, with the club.”
Dragons supporter Will Lorde said Holmes’ injury could be detrimental to the 2025 season.
“He’s a massive signing and we kind of need him now since Lomax is gone, in terms of goal kicking and that experience in the backline” Lorde said.
“He’s still a gun considering his age too, he’s pushing thirty.”
The Cowboys medical staff have released to The Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports that Holmes has suffered a suspected broken leg. There is speculation to whether he will be right to play pre-season for the Dragons.
