The St George Illawarra Dragons have confirmed that Valentine Holmes is fit to play in Round 1 against the Canterbury Bulldogs, dispelling concerns raised by a social media video snippet. The video, which appeared to show Holmes clutching his hamstring, sparked fears of a long layoff for the star State of Origin centre and goal kicker. However, the club assured fans that the snippet was from a video they posted weeks ago, and that Holmes has recovered well from his injury. Despite this, the Dragons decided to rest Holmes this weekend, instead choosing to risk him in the season opener against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas.
The Dragons' decision to rest Holmes is a strategic move, as they look to build a strong team for the upcoming season. With an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, the Dragons are determined to move away from the bottom of the table. Holmes, one of the team's most experienced players, will play a critical role in achieving this goal. The team's other centre spot will be filled by Moses Suli, while the wingers are yet to be finalized, with new recruits David Fale and Setu Tu competing with Christian Tuipulotu and Tyrell Sloan for the run-on spots. Clint Gutherson will start at fullback again.
The Dragons' season opener is set for Sunday, March 1 (Australian time) against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Las Vegas, followed by their first game on Australian soil on Saturday, March 14 against the Melbourne Storm in Wollongong. The team's management is confident that Holmes and the rest of the team are ready to take on the challenges of the new season, and fans can expect an exciting and competitive performance from the Dragons.
