Valentine Holmes

[Ronnie Dobbs]

The Dragons got the jump on the field last week, with coach Flanagan making the long trek to Townsville to sit down with his former premiership-winning player at Cronulla.

Credit where due Mr Flanagan.

Jeez I hope we aint paying overs for Val as he is no spring chicken.

Good points Jubbsy.

How old was Gasnier when he came back in 2010?

 

[SAP58]

o Who is this elusive alternative to Holmes that fans seen to think we could/should have signed?

o There are no prizes for not spending 3mil of our cap next year.. it just makes winning (and recruitment) harder.

o Rly happy now that Lomax is gone, hes a hard worker but just not bought into the culture, now that we have a replacement centre and goalkicker.. I feel a lot better about 2025.

o This is a huge win for us getting some respect again in future recruitments.. I know we got Cook, but it felt like we needed another domino to fall our way.. show future players that we are building here, and they dont need to take a leap of faith by signing with us.

o If Val just ends up a fast goal-kicking winger, thats still a huge win for us, but for right now hes our left centre, and if something goes tits up with Sloan (even an injury), we have a Plan B.

o Also bring some acceleration/speed into our backline (along with Sloan).. Lomax again has his strengths but i think that was his peak this year, Val will get plenty more line breaks than Lomax and will finish a try better also.. not as strong in the air but pretty solid in that space regardless. Also a better kicker imo.

Good post, I totally agree with all your points. We dont sign someone we are no good now we sign a current rep player & we are still doing the wrong thing. I for one think it is a good signing brings good culture & still offers a lot including a quality goal kicker. Well done Flanno !

 

[BIG RIG]

His only 29 so will be 32 by the end of the deal which is not bad at all

The Dragons got the jump on the field last week, with coach Flanagan making the long trek to Townsville to sit down with his former premiership-winning player at Cronulla.

Credit where due Mr Flanagan.

Jeez I hope we aint paying overs for Val as he is no spring chicken.

 

[TheRev]

Val might even play on beyond 2027.. but by that point I'd suggest he is a winger only and on less coin.. but this is a problem for a very different day =)

 

[Hound of Dracula]

His fast and powerful. His defence had been shoddy this year and hope Flanno can fix that
I hope he does play wing but happy wherever
Souths sign Aitken at 29 snd Nikorima extends at 30 but we sign a 29 year old playing origin and we are signing old age pensioners?
Geez we were a funny lot of supporters
It is hard to be positive as a Dragon supporter of late
But surely those that want to look can see the slow signs of improvement under Flanno
Baby steps

I needed that - a bit of a wake up

Both Cook and Val announcements have not thrilled me but.... as you say!

Perhaps I'm also clouded by my disappointment with 4 weeks for Kyle.
I reckon there was enough extenuating circumstances for guilty with 1 or 2 weeks.

I'm also a little pissed that WT signed Skelton. Whenever he gets an opportunity in top grade he makes more than 150 meters. Tigers probably got him on 250K. (Just guessing)

That's a value signing and if it was us, would have been a big "UP YOURS GUS"

 

[BLM01]

I needed that - a bit of a wake up

Both Cook and Val announcements have not thrilled me but.... as you say!

Perhaps I'm also clouded by my disappointment with 4 weeks for Kyle.
I reckon there was enough extenuating circumstances for guilty with 1 or 2 weeks.

I'm also a little pissed that WT signed Skelton. Whenever he gets an opportunity in top grade he makes more than 150 meters. Tigers probably got him on 250K. (Just guessing)

That's a value signing and if it was us, would have been a big "UP YOURS GUS"

Yes but a journeyman so to speak. Hardly played NRL and is 25. Why is that?......just saying it is easy to be critical of our recruitment but I could find issues with most teams recruiting except for a few stars.
Gee Roosters sign reserve grader Townsend for example.

Holmes is a better all round player and more potent than Lomax in my view only in form. So we are gaining.
Zac as I keep saying is great with efforts taking the ball in settlers but does not really bust the line (so is Holmes who runs harder)
Zac is great leaper and chaser. Ive seen Holmes score runaway tries and beating defense.
Both not the best passers. Zac too many high risk flicks

Cook still has pace and smarts for a 9. Good buy for us. We are gaining.

 

[RedVee]

Yep, improving the roster bit by bit

 

[TheRev]

Holmes is a better all round player and more potent than Lomax in my view only in form. So we are gaining.
Zac as I keep saying is great with efforts taking the ball in settlers but does not really bust the line (so is Holmes who runs harder)
Zac is great leaper and chaser. Ive seen Holmes score runaway tries and beating defense.
Both not the best passers. Zac too many high risk flicks

Yah I agree, and hence I think neither of them are your ideal fullback, but I think Holmes will make a better fist of it if we needed it, as hes better really in every area offensively, speed, acceleration, tackle busting.. neither player is a playmaker.. tbf Lomax can barely pass a football, thats why we ended up with so many flicks and just poor decisions when he played ctr.. Lomax also really struggled if he had to play left side.. im not sure if Val is the same when playing on the right..... but its a win win win for me.. other than I guess age.

Not any of these debates really matter tbh though.. as whats done is done.. Zac and the club were happy to part ways (make what you will).. and we had to find a replacement.. this is the best we could manage.. and personally I'm really happy with the outcome.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Yes but a journeyman so to speak. Hardly played NRL and is 25. Why is that?......just saying it is easy to be critical of our recruitment but I could find issues with most teams recruiting except for a few stars.
Gee Roosters sign reserve grader Townsend for example.

Holmes is a better all round player and more potent than Lomax in my view only in form. So we are gaining.
Zac as I keep saying is great with efforts taking the ball in settlers but does not really bust the line (so is Holmes who runs harder)
Zac is great leaper and chaser. Ive seen Holmes score runaway tries and beating defense.
Both not the best passers. Zac too many high risk flicks

Cook still has pace and smarts for a 9. Good buy for us. We are gaining.

If we talk Hunt - I'm critical - Guilty as charged!!

But my comments regarding recent recruits are just more like expressing a little uncertainty. I should, however, be more trusting of coach Flanno.

Hoping for the miracle budget buy of the year?
I know I'm dreaming

P.S. just heard we interested in "Gutho"? - I'm back in the foetal position for no other reason than he is Parra and will always be Parra like Cook will always be Souths, even though I accept both can perform in the red V. It's just not the same as supporting home grown talent.

Can't wait for more of our juniors to flourish.

 

[RedVee]

If we talk Hunt - I'm critical - Guilty as charged!!

But my comments regarding recent recruits are just more like expressing a little uncertainty. I should, however, be more trusting of coach Flanno.

Hoping for the miracle budget buy of the year?
I know I'm dreaming

P.S. just heard we interested in "Gutho"? - I'm back in the foetal position for no other reason than he is Parra and will always be Parra like Cook will always be Souths, even though I accept both can perform in the red V. It's just not the same as supporting home grown talent.

Can't wait for more of our juniors to flourish.

Cook was homegrown

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Cook was homegrown

Yes he was

He moved a lot
And finally landed at souths where he's had all his success

You remember ever cheering for Cook in FG wearing the Red V?

I dont!

It's like welcoming back Bostock in 2033

 

[Dea]

I’m happy with Holmes. We need a win with recruitment and Holmes is a current SOO player who will replace Lomax. I feel he is a good pick up for where we are at present and better will come in the next few years.

 

[RedVee]

Yes he was

He moved a lot
And finally landed at souths where he's had all his success

You remember ever cheering for Cook in FG wearing the Red V?

I dont!

It's like welcoming back Bostock in 2033

I do.
He played maybe two games in firsts before moving on.

Point remains you can still support him as a homegrown talent.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

I do.
He played maybe two games in firsts before moving on.

Point remains you can still support him as a homegrown talent.

True - You can!

It just feels like second prize when our home grown talent delivered success to Souths and NSW - Not Dragons.

But I will still cheer for his success with the Dragons

 

[BLM01]

Yah I agree, and hence I think neither of them are your ideal fullback, but I think Holmes will make a better fist of it if we needed it, as hes better really in every area offensively, speed, acceleration, tackle busting.. neither player is a playmaker.. tbf Lomax can barely pass a football, thats why we ended up with so many flicks and just poor decisions when he played ctr.. Lomax also really struggled if he had to play left side.. im not sure if Val is the same when playing on the right..... but its a win win win for me.. other than I guess age.

Not any of these debates really matter tbh though.. as whats done is done.. Zac and the club were happy to part ways (make what you will).. and we had to find a replacement.. this is the best we could manage.. and personally I'm really happy with the outcome.

Holmes plays right at origin. He will be fine either side. I dont know his preferred side but centres should be able to do both. But for me is a classic left winger