Queensland State of Origin selectors were relieved after Cowboys center Valentine Holmes avoided a suspension for a hip drop against the Wests Tigers on Friday.
On Saturday, the NRL Match Judiciary charge sheet saw Holmes issued with a Grade 1 dangerous contact offence, but he will not miss the Maroons’ first Origin match on June 5 if he pleads guilty.
Holmes will also have to pay a $1,800 fine after his tackle on Isaiah Papali’i went wrong, ruling the Tigers star out for the rest of the game.
Compounding his pain is the fact that Holmes was suspended for four games at the end of the 2023 season for a shoulder charge against Titans young gun Jayden Campbell, and he will carry the burden of that charge as well.
North Queensland coach Todd Payten is proud to be from New South Wales but insists the decision to sin Holmes and report him for a hip-drop tackle in the 42-28 win over Wests Tigers was unnecessary .
Holmes attempted this tackle on Wests forward Isaiah Papali’i late in the first half.
Holmes then collided with teammate Tom Dearden and fell into Papali’i’s legs.
Referee Belinda Sharpe ruled the incident a hip drop and sent Holmes to the sin bin.
He said a worse tackle by Tigers prop David Klemmer on Cowboys forward Kulikefu Finefuiaki, for which he was reported, was a “textbook” hip drop even though he was not sent off.
Klemmer will miss three games for his third offense.
Holmes was sent off in the 37th minute on Friday for a challenge on Tigers forward Isaiah Papali’i, who left the field, never to return, with an ankle injury.
He was later seen wearing a moon boot.
Holmes will almost certainly be named in the Queensland squad for the State of Origin series opener in Sydney on Monday. The 28-year-old scored 13 tries in 16 appearances for the Maroons and is a top pick.
“We lose (a player) for 10 minutes and that inconsistency really bothers me and the players, members and fans,” Payten said.
‘Every time we get into a bunker situation, I get very nervous. I’m sure the players feel the same. Removing sins changes the complex of the game and it becomes very difficult to regain momentum.
‘With all the camera angles, they can’t get that wrong, among other things. It’s very frustrating.”
Holmes’ entry was checked by the bunker. Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden accidentally landed it while he was making the tackle, which may work in his favor.
“It wasn’t a hip drop from the beginning, so I’m stunned by the bunker in that situation,” Payten said.
“I don’t know what a rugby league player is supposed to do when he goes for it and a defender lunges at his legs.
‘He’s going to land on his legs. I have no doubt where he’s going to land, but it’s not a hip hop.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was left furious after Wests Tigers forward David Klemmer was reported for, but not convicted of, a hip drop in the same game.
Holmes could miss opening State of Origin clash if suspended
Payten highlighted inconsistencies in sin-bin decisions and what is considered a hip-drop tackle, using Tigers prop David Klemmer as an example. Klemmer was reported but not sent to the sin-bin.
“Textbook David Klemmer in the second half, and nothing happened,” he said.
‘The bunker has every right to intervene there and make the right decision. We lose one (player) to 10 and they (don’t).
‘The inconsistency really bothers me, the players, our members and the fans of the game.
“Every time we go into a bunker situation I get nervous, very nervous and I’m sure the players feel the same.” Because sin removal simply changes the complex of the game and it is very difficult to regain momentum.
‘With all the camera angles, they can’t make as many mistakes on other calls. It’s very frustrating”.
Football fans were also baffled by the inconsistencies that kept Klemmer on the field.
‘Why didn’t they throw Klemmer out for the same thing, hip drop but only penalty?’ asked one.
“We’re entering the hip drop clown stage,” another frustrated fan posted.
“I walked out as soon as he was penalised… What was Val going to do just stand up and play football or you might as well call netball, what a rugby league joke these days,” fumed one angry Cowboys supporter. .