Wendell Sailor, a dual-code international, and Millie Elliott, aSydney Roosters NRLW star (née Boyle), have discussed whether Valentine Holmes should have been called up to the national team right away.
The recently married Elliot expressed her displeasure with Holmes being granted a return to the Kangaroos following his recent suspension due to a social media incident during their talk on Triple M’s The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude, and Wendell.
Holmes, who was suspended for the first Pacific Championships game, was reinserted into the starting lineup this weekend, replacing Selwyn Cobbo.
Alongside Dylan Edwards, Kotoni Staggs, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, he will strengthen the backline.
Val Holmes’ inclusion in the mix is intriguing. We are aware of how talented he is, but that choice still baffles me,” she remarked on Tuesday.
“I just think it’s debatable, and I believe there are other players who could be there who have performed well all season.
“No matter who you pick for a Austrualia, you’ve got the best team available.”
Dual-code international Wendell Sailor also delivered his opinion on the situation, revealing that although Holmes’ selection was a surprise, he could sympathise with the 28-year-old being continually punished for his mistake.
“Remember a couple of years ago, [Meninga] talked about setting the standards at the Kangaroos, and look, I understand, I’ve been through adversity and I’ve been in trouble a couple of times – more than a couple of times,” he said.
“However, it’s amusing that Mal Meninga, of all people, also seems to really like Val. Although Val doesn’t make many mistakes, he chose him, so the team will be strong.”
They made their statements a week after Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga appeared on the radio show to talk about his selection of Valentine Holmes for the team.
“It’s my favourite, too. He’s never failed his nation or really any team, as far as I can tell,” Meninga remarked.
“He was in the squad so most of the players that didn’t play [against Samoa] will get a shot against the Kiwis.”
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The Sydney Roosters are on the verge of a massive pre-November 1 coup, with highly rated rookie Siua Wong poised to sign a two-year extension.
The 20-year-old, who was instrumental in the Roosters’ late season surge to the finals after making his NRL debut in round 18, has agreed to terms on a $850,000, two-year extension to keep him at the Tricolours until the end of 2026.
Wong was one of the most in-demand youngsters in two codes, with the All Blacks and Australian rugby both keen to secure the services of the 20-year-old, multiple rugby league Test teams chasing him and several NRL clubs also waiting for a chance to lure him away from Bondi.
Instead Wong, on the eve of the NRL’s November 1 free agency period, has pledged his allegiance to the Sydney Roosters, the club that signed him at a young age and sent him to school at The Scots College.
Wong is already contracted for 2024 on a deal worth around $180,000. The Roosters aren’t in a position to offer him an upgrade after discussions between Angus Crichton and Rugby Australia recently fell through.
Crichton was given permission to join the 15-man code in a move that would have cleared close to $700,000 in the Sydney Roosters’ salary cap.
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