Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan believes star fullback Valentine Holmes will have a point to prove to Queensland selectors following his omission from the Maroons team for game one.
Despite turning out for the Kangaroos earlier this month, Holmes was this week overlooked for next week's State of Origin opener in Brisbane in favour of Corey Oates and Dane Gagai.
Flanagan insists Holmes took his representative snub graciously, but expects the 21-year-old to come out firing in Saturday's NRL clash against Canterbury.
Asked whether Holmes was the kind of player who would come out with a point to prove, Flanagan said: "Yeah, he is. He's a really determined, young kid.
"He hasn't taken it in a negative way. That's life, that's football. He understands why. It was explained to him really well why he wasn't in the team. He accepted that and moved on."
Flanagan said he had originally pencilled in Holmes to be the fifth Sharks player away on Origin duty, joining NSW stars Andrew Fifita, James Maloney, Wade Graham and Jack Bird.
But he conceded Queensland's controversial decision to leave out Billy Slater meant Holmes had no reason to whinge about his non-selection.
"I was interested to hear (Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga's) comments on Val. He's one of Mal's favourite players as a winger," Flanagan said.
"But Val can't whinge too much in my opinion. When they leave Billy out, who's the best fullback I've ever seen, that's life.
"If a player of his quality can be left out, you've got to work hard and continue to work hard. And he will do that. He'll get his chance eventually."
Another player Flanagan is delighted to have lining up against the Bulldogs is retired Blues skipper Paul Gallen, who is set to play his first game for Sharks during Origin since 2010.
Flanagan admitted Gallen has missed being part of the Origin build-up, but is a huge inclusion for the face-off between third spot and ninth on the ladder.
"I think he's missing it, the hype about Origin. Players like that, when they retire from the game, or just retire from the rep arena, they do miss it," Flanagan said.
"He'll definitely miss it on Wednesday night when he's up there watching it.
"It is a bit different having Gal around this Origin period. His leadership this week's been great. We've got an added bonus with Val there as well. We didn't expect to have Val this week."
A combined seven Origin players will be missing between the two clubs, however less than 1000 tickets remain for the Bulldogs' first visit to the Shire since 2011.
STATS THAT MATTER
- Cronulla will be looking to win three straight matches against Canterbury for the first time since 1979.
- Cronulla are first for least points and tries conceded, and third for least metres and line breaks conceded.
- The Bulldogs have led at halftime just once this season, in round three against the Warriors.
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