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Valentine Holmes is facing a fine of up to $30,000 and a suspension that has the potential to cost him a Kangaroos jersey because of his controversial social media post.
Holmes is due to respond to a breach notice issued by the NRL by Wednesday after an image of him holding a white bag in his mouth was published online on September 10. While the post was deleted shortly afterwards, and the Cowboys star has told those close to him it was made in jest, it could have serious consequences.
The NRL alleged he breached its code of conduct following an integrity unit investigation after he “brought the game and his club into disrepute by publicly associating the game with illegal drugs”.
While the NRL won’t disclose the sanctions until a final determination is made, sources with knowledge of the matter, speaking confidentially given the process is yet to be completed, said the 28-year-old is facing a hefty fine, as well as at least one game on the sideline.
Storm trio Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis were fined a combined $49,000 and banned for one game each for their roles in the club’s white powder scandal two years ago. In 2019, Eels forward Shaun Lane escaped suspension but was fined $17,500 for a similar photo that emerged after Mad Monday celebrations.
Australia coach Mal Meninga opted not to select Holmes for the Prime Minister’s XIII team that will take on PNG in Port Moresby on Saturday following the incident.
Valentine Holmes with a white bag in his mouth.
Whether Holmes serves any further suspension during other season-ending Tests – the Kangaroos are scheduled to play New Zealand and Samoa in a tri-series in October – or at the start of the next NRL season remains unclear.
As is the case for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who was named in a preliminary Kiwis squad despite serving a long suspension, a determination on when he can return to the field may be required from NRL judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew.
Holmes, a member of the Kangaroos’ World Cup-winning team last year, appeared to have a good chance of keeping his spot in a three-quarter line that will be missing injured stars Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Campbell Graham.
If unavailable for the entire tri-series, it opens the door for the likes of Bradman Best, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Alofiana Khan-Pereira to make their Test debuts. Tabuai-Fidow, Khan-Pereira and Zac Lomax will get a chance to push their cases in the PM’s XIII clash at Santos National Football Stadium.
“I honestly don’t know what the team will be yet, but we’ve got Zac and Hammer here,” PM’s XIII vice-captain Daly Cherry-Evans said.
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