Moment Val found his mojo at fullback

IT’S the moment Cronulla’s Valentine Holmes came of age as an NRL fullback.

The Sharks were up 24- 16 in round 23 and attacking North Queensland’s line with less than a minute remaining.

Hooker James Segeyaro fed the ball to first receiver Holmes, who threw a sharp cut- out pass for winger Jayson Bukuya to dive over and score.

It was an impressive play but not a match- winning one, so its significance was largely missed.

But his teammates noticed – Holmes had found his “voice”.

Playmaker Chad Townsend said Holmes had demanded he receive the ball on the short side, something he would not have done 12 months before.

“The biggest thing I have noticed is that he has found his voice a lot more,’’ Townsend said ahead of tomorrow night’s semi- final against the Penrith Panthers at Allianz Stadium.

“In defence the fullback has a big role in organising the defensive line but it has been more so in attack.

“One of the games towards the back end of the year I heard him overcall the ball on a short side and he hit the winger and we scored a try.

“Val probably would not have done that last year, so to see him do that and execute and call the ball and demand it and fire it to the winger and the winger scored ... I think that was a real big stepping stone in the evolution of his game.

“Immediately I went up to him and said ‘ mate, don’t take that stuff lightly, that’s a big step for you’.

“That was the moment I thought he was evolving into a fullback.”

Those who have played with or coached Holmes never questioned he had the talent to make it as a fullback.

It was a matter of finding the on- field temperament and self- assurance required to speak up, which is a crucial part of any good fullback’s repertoire.