Valentine Holmes

Background

Born in Townsville, Queensland, Holmes is of Cook Island and Māori descent. Holmes played his junior football for the Western Lions, before being signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. In 2013, Holmes moved to Sydney to play for the Sharks SG Ball Cup team. Later that year he made his debut for the Sharks NYC team, scoring 17 tries in 10 games. In 2013, Holmes played for the Queensland Under 18s team. In September 2013, Holmes, whose father is from New Zealand, was named in the 2013 Junior Kiwis train-on squad. In December 2013, Holmes was named in the 2014 Queensland Academy of Sport Under 20s Emerging Origin squad.

2014

In February, Holmes was selected in the Sharks Auckland Nines squad. He played for the Queensland Under 20s team at fullback in the 30–8 loss to the Under 20's New South Wales team at Penrith Stadium. In Round 21, Holmes made his NRL debut for the Sharks against the Parramatta Eels on the wing in the 32–12 loss at Remondis Stadium filling in for Sosaia Feki who succumbed to an injury before the match. On 6 August, He extended his contract with the Sharks from the end of 2015, to the end of 2017. In Round 23 against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park, Holmes scored his first NRL try in the 6–48 loss. Holmes finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 6 matches and scoring 3 tries. Holmes was named at wing in the 2014 NYC Team of the Year.

On 8 September, Holmes was named in the 2014 Junior Kangaroos train-on squad. A day later he was named in the New Zealand Kiwis train-on squad for the 2014 Four Nations. On 12 September, he pledged his allegiance to Australia. On 18 October, Holmes played on the wing for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis at Mt Smart Stadium, scoring two tries in the 14–15 loss.

2015

Holmes played for the Sharks in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines. On 2 May, he again played on the wing for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis, scoring a try and kicking 1 goal in the 22-20 win. In Round 10 against the Gold Coast Titans, he kicked a field goal to win the match for the Sharks in their 23-22 golden-point extra-time victory at Cbus Super Stadium. In Round 19 against the Canberra Raiders, he repeated his efforts, kicking another field goal in extra-time to win the match 21-20. He finished off the season as the Sharks' highest try-scorer with 16 tries, as well as kicking 11 goals and 3 field goals in 25 matches.

2016

Holmes was selected in the QAS Emerging Maroons squad, but on 31 January, while in the Emerging Maroons camp, he broke curfew and was fined for public nuisance and obstructing Queensland Police. The QRL announced he would be excluded from its representative programs for the next 12 months. He was then stood down from the Sharks' 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad after previously being named. In Round 10 against the Newcastle Knights, he scored 4 tries in the Sharks 62-0 win. Holmes was part of the squad which won the NRL Grand Final, 14-12 against the Melbourne Storm. Holmes finished the season playing 23 games and scoring 19 tries, once again the Sharks highest try scorer. Holmes was later selected for the Australian test side to face New Zealand on the 15 of November. Holmes scored a try on debut for the Australians in his sides 26-6 win.

2017

Holmes was selected to play for Australia in the 2017 ANZAC Test. He was selected to make his Origin debut for Queensland in Game II where he score a try on debut. He was selected in Game III where he scored a hatrick.