‘ Ferrari’ Holmes a must
VALENTINE Holmes is a “Ferrari” who Queensland simply couldn’t afford to keep parked in the garage.
That’s the opinion of Origin great Wendell Sailor, who is adamant Holmes and fellow flanker Dane Gagai can usurp he and Lote Tuqiri as Queensland’s best ever wing combo.
Think big wingers who get through plenty of work in danger and dual internationals Tuqiri and Sailor is the first duo that come to mind after they wreaked havoc for the Broncos and Maroons in the ’ 90s.
Despite playing for Australia in the Four Nations and May’s Anzac Test against New Zealand, Corey Oates was preferred over Townsville product Holmes for Origin I.
Although Oates was one of Queensland’s best in the 28- 4 loss, Sailor believes Holmes’ form at fullback for Cronulla demanded he be handed an Origin debut.
Like Oates, Holmes returns the ball with almost reckless regard for his body, but has the advantage of playing most of his football on the wing.
“Corey’s never let Queensland down but Valentine Holmes, he’s a Ferrari,” Sailor said on Monday.
“NSW was quite smart ( in game one), Mitch Pearce kept kicking to Oates and they tired him out. They weren’t kicking to Dane Gagai because they knew Corey could come in and wind up on those big runs.
“When I came through we had big outside backs but what the wingers do now, they’ve gone to a whole new level compared to what we were doing in our day.
“I can see Dane and Val locking those wing spots in for a few years and I’ve got no doubt they can be better than what Lote and I did.”
Sailor also has no doubt young Cowboys wrecking ball Coen Hess is ready for his Origin debut, insisting the comparisons with a young Gorden Tallis aren’t premature.
The 20- year- old has an incredible try- scoring rate for a forward with 15 in just 22 career NRL games.
All 10 of his tries this year have been scored from less than 15 metres from the tryline, something Tallis made an art of in his career.
“When I first saw him he’s like a young Gorden Tallis, he’s just raw,” Sailor said.
“When you look at Gordie, 10 or 15 metres out from the line he wanted to own that moment and score tries, that’s what Hess has got in him.”
Sailor urged Hess to use his agility and size to intimidate Blues kickers Pearce and James Maloney.
“He’s not as angry as Gorden, but we saw that hit he put on Mitchell Moses ( in the Cowboys win over Parramatta a fortnight ago),” he said.
“Everyone says it was a bit late but Johnathan Thurston cops that all the time. I want him to really get into Pearce and Maloney. “
• Wendell Sailor is part of the Triple M team who will cover State of Origin II tonight. Dead Set Legends will broadcast live from the ground from 6- 7pm, before pre- match coverage from 7pm.