Holmes: I’m ready
Missing out last year a blessing in disguise, says debutant
ORIGIN debutant Valentine Holmes said last year’s Maroons ban may have been a blessing in disguise, with the Kangaroos winger unsure he was ready for a Queensland call-up.
Holmes was one of eight players banned from representing the Maroons last year after breaking curfew in Emerging Origin camp, with the suspension almost definitely keeping the Cronulla flyer from making his Queensland debut.
Incumbents Dane Gagai and Corey Oates kept their places for this year’s opening game of the series but Holmes’ form could not be ignored for Game Two.
“It obviously worked out well, I don’t know if I would have been ready last year to play Origin, I only had about 30 games under me,” he said.
“It’s a good thing and I ended up having a pretty good year and we made the finals there.”
Homes said he was surprised to be called up, believing Oates had done enough to retain his place.
But he was thrilled to earn his call-up, saying its was a “massive honour and privilege” to pull on the jersey.
“I thought (Oates) and Gagai played really strong. In a losing team they both carried the ball really strong and I didn’t think he’d get cut,” Holmes said.
“I’m not going to compare myself to him, he’s played a few games now, so he’s done really well for Queensland.
“I’ll just play like I have been for my club and for Australia on the wing, just run the ball back hard and compete on everything.”
Holmes knows he comes into a team under pressure with the series on the line in what would only be Queensland’s second loss in 12 years.
“I think every (Origin) game you’re going to have a bit of pressure,” he said.
“Now we’re down one, there is a bit of pressure, we’ve got to obviously equal it and get the win back so we can go back to Suncorp and play for a win there.”
However, he said he would not put pressure on himself.
“I’m just trying to soak it all up and enjoy this week and I’ll just prepare as if I’m playing another game.
“I just block everything out and think of it as another game. Obviously when it comes to the game day it’s going to be a bit different, a bit bigger, but I’ll just try and pretend there’s only about 20,000 people out there.”