I've silenced my doubters: Holmes

Cronulla fullback Valentine Holmes says he's enjoyed silencing his doubters this NRL season.

NRL Sharks

Cronulla's Valentine Holmes reckons he's silenced those who doubted he could excel at fullback. (AAP)

Valentine Holmes has enjoyed putting his doubters in their place this NRL season.

But he says there's one man he still has to convince - Australian coach Mal Meninga.

For the opening two months of the year, Holmes wasn't even first in line for the Cronulla No.1 jumper.

But the 23-year-old has not only extinguished doubt about his best position, he's beginning to emerge as a possible future Kangaroos fullback.

Meninga is on record as saying Sydney Roosters' James Tedesco is first in line for the coveted No.1 jersey, vacated by Billy Slater's representative retirement, for the end-of-year Tests against New Zealand and Tonga.

However Holmes continues to make his case after establishing himself as a bona fide superstar of the game over the last few months.

Asked if he was dreaming of inheriting Slaters' Kangaroos spot, Holmes argued he was still down the pecking order.

"I've still got a few more people to get in front of there," Holmes said.

"Obviously Tedesco is playing some really good footy, he played really well against us on the weekend.

"I'll still bide my time for those rep jerseys but proving my point for my club, that was my main goal."

Coming into the year, there were many who believed he was better suited to the wing than fullback following his 12-try haul on the flank for the Kangaroos in last year's World Cup.

A couple of forgettable performances in the Sharks No.1 jersey at the start of the year intensified the debate and he spent seven of the opening 12 games of the NRL season on the wing for Cronulla.

Having definitively answered any questions about whether he could play his best football at fullback, Holmes said he enjoyed watching his critics being forced to eat their words.

"It wasn't the greatest time. I wasn't playing the best footy (but) I try not to read too much into it," Holmes said.

"I don't really care what people think of me. I knew myself that I needed to play better and could have played better. It wasn't the start to the season that I wanted. I'm glad it happened the way it did.

"I feel like I've proven a lot of people wrong and I'm happy about that."


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Source: AAP


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