Cronulla have been dealt another injury blow on the eve of the season with young star Valentine Holmes racing the clock to be fit for the club’s season opener against Brisbane.
Holmes suffered a hamstring injury attempting to score a try against the Broncos in Cronulla’s 30-12 trial loss at Redcliffe on Saturday night.
It is believed Holmes has suffered a three to four week injury, meaning he won’t play against Wigan in the World Club Challenge.
The Sharks host the Broncos at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Thursday, March 2 to kick off the NRL season.
The loss of Ben Barba, initially to suspension and then to French rugby union, and the potential shuffling of Holmes to fullback had already caused a selection headache for coach Shane Flanagan.
Left winger Sosaia Feki is understood to also be struggling with a medial ligament injury and might not be fit until round two.
With Gerard Beale potentially coming into the side and incumbent Ricky Leutele in the centres, the absences of Barba, Holmes and Feki leaves the Sharks short on outside backs.
Of their premiership-winning backline, Flanagan is facing the prospect of having only Leutele and Jack Bird as well as Beale available for round one.
Bird had told the Leader he had given up hope of replacing Barba at fullback, focusing on his role in the centres and gaining more representative honours.
“When [Val] came back [to training] he slotted into there and I just moved back to the centres. I guess that’s where they want me to play, in the centres, and I guess that’s where I’m going to play,” he said.
I guess that’s where they want me to play, in the centres.
- Jack Bird
As well as question marks over their outside backs, Cronulla need to replace Michael Ennis. New signing Daniel Mortimer is understood to be the front runner to play hooker, with young local junior and Holden Cup player of the year Jayden Brailey also in the mix.
New signing Tony Williams has been battling a hamstring problem, while halfback Chad Townsend has only just had a brace removed from his right hand after suffering a broken bone at the base of his wrist.
Meanwhile, the Sharks were eliminated from the Auckland Nines at the pool stage after two early losses to the Gold Coast and Penrith last weekend.
