Why Origin Two is Valentine's day to lead young Maroons at the 'G

One of just three Maroons to have featured in the last Origin match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Valentine Holmes still doesn’t see himself as a leader but understands his experience on the big stage is vital to helping Queensland wrap up the series next Wednesday.  

Holmes, Felise Kaufusi and Ben Hunt are the only Queenslanders to have experienced the 2018 series opener at the iconic venue, so they know what is coming when they run out in front of 90,000-plus fans on June 26.

“I remember it pretty clearly. It was only my second year of Origin and there was 90,000 people there so I was pretty nervous,” Holmes told pan66.com.

“GI (Greg Inglis) was captain, he was centre and I was playing outside him. We didn’t win that day but we played OK.

“I try not to think of myself as a leader as such but looking back, it does make me realise I am one of the older players and how I need to be that person for someone else now.

“You look at guys like Hammer and Reece Walsh who are only 21 and coming through and playing exceptionally at Origin level, it definitely does make me feel a bit older but it makes me more confident as well.”

The fleet-footed Cowboys star faces a new challenge in Game Two, coming up against recalled Blues centre Latrell Mitchell for the first time in his career.

The Kangaroos pair have played alongside each other on the world stage and against each other at club and Origin level, but Holmes has never lined up directly across the field from Mitchell in the centres.

He knows he'll need to dig deep into his kit bag to shut down the South Sydney star.

“Obviously he’s a world class centre and a world class player so I’ll have to be on my 'A game' going up against him,” said Holmes, who boasts 13 tries in his 17 Origin games.

“We all know he’s pretty dangerous but we just need to play to our game and I need to make sure I get to him early and try not let him get his metres up.

“It’s pretty tough when he’s got the ball in space so I just need to try and get in his face as much as I can.”

Having worked through off-field issues and his form late in 2023, the 28-year-old hit his straps early in the season to retain the Queensland right centre position.

Holmes said he also felt the added advantage in Game One of playing alongside Cowboys teammates Murray Taulagi, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai, as well as one-time Cowboy Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

“To have five of us playing together is pretty special, particularly having Muz (Taulagi) and I on one side and the some of the lads together on the other side, it definitely helps with combinations.

“It definitely makes you more comfortable being there because it can be daunting coming into camp by yourself.

“I’m sure Robbo probably feels that when he goes into Blues camp by himself but to have five of the boys together, it’s pretty cool.

“We have a pretty confident team and with the way we played last game, we just need to build from that.

“To get the first win and go down to Melbourne, which is probably another Queensland home game hopefully, is really exciting.”