Shane Flanagan raises eyebrows with telling Valentine Holmes remark amid Tyrell Sloan decision
Flanagan believes Holmes can return to his best at the Dragons.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan believes Valentine Holmes can return to his best form at the Red V following the news the Maroons centre has been granted permission by the Cowboys to test the open market. Holmes is about to enter the final year of his NRL contract worth around $1 million a season and North Queensland are reportedly willing to let him go at the end of the year, 12 months before his deal ends.
The Cowboys' salary cap is beyond stretched with Holmes, Tom Dearden, Jason Taumalolo, Jeremiah Nanai, Scott Drinkwater and Jeremiah Nanai all on mega-money deals. While NSW hooker Reece Robson and Queensland co-captain Reuben Cotter are set to enter the final 12 months of their contracts on November 1 and both would likely require a decent pay bump on their next deal to keep them at the club.
Holmes leaving early could create the space required to allow the club to lock down those core team members. And with young Jaxon Purdue emerging as a North Queensland star in the making, the Cowboys may believe they can afford to let Holmes go.
The Dragons were reported to be interested in Holmes almost immediately after news broke he was looking to test the open market, however, they are still yet to open talks. But with Zac Lomax heading to Parramatta and the club missing out on Blaize Talagi, Flanagan declared they are interested in the Kangaroos representative. However, he said the club has no plan to offer him the fullback spot to convince him to come.
"I think he would (look good in a Dragons jumper)," Flanagan said of Holmes on Thursday. "Without doubt, he is a quality player. With Zac leaving the club there is a space there for us. I would like to think that players like Val - and not just Val - come into calculation."
Flanagan has had a successful first year in charge of the Red V and has made no secret of his desire to add some strike power to his roster, already securing South Sydney hooker Damien Cook for next season and holding talks with Newcastle forward Daniel Saifiti. Holmes would be another great addition and would go a long way to negating the loss of Lomax.
Holmes offers similar flexibility to that of Lomax, being able to play centre, on the wing or fullback and also a ready-made goal-kicking replacement. "I can't see why not," Flanagan said on the potential signing of Holmes.
"He's a super talent. I had him when he first started at the Sharks, playing fullback on the wing in Jersey Flegg and SG Ball. He's a super talent. Sometimes players run in and out of form, but he hasn't lost any talent."
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Shane Flanagan insists Tyrell Sloan is still his fullback of choice
The Dragons coach said he would love to have Holmes at left centre next year while reiterating his stance that Tyrell Sloan will still be the Dragons' long-term fullback. Dropped last week to work on defensive deficiencies, Sloan has been recalled back in the No.1 jersey this week against Melbourne after his replacement Mat Feagai suffered a concussion. And Flanagan says he still has faith in his fullback but admits the fullback has a lot to work on and quickly.
"I've always said (he is the long-term fullback)," Flanagan said. "He's an exceptional talent, he's just got some areas he's got to work on and work on quickly.
"It was only a week. That wasn't what we planned. But hopefully, it maybe gives him a freshen up, and also a rocket, that he needs to do a better job."
with AAP
