Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has confirmed he couldn’t pick Valentine Holmes given the Cowboys star has been hit with a breach notice that could open the door for Knights young gun Bradman Best to make his international debut.
Holmes was a member of the World Cup winning team last year but wasn’t picked in the Prime Minister’s XIII squad that will travel to Port Moresby next week to take on the PNG PM’s XIII.
The Cowboys centre was hit with a breach notice on Wednesday for an alleged breach of the code of conduct following an NRL integrity unit investigation into a social media post on the weekend that showed him holding a bag filled with white powder.
With Latrell Mitchell injured and Jack Wighton retired from representative football, Holmes was the logical option to fill the void left by last year’s World Cup centre combination for the Pacific Championships starting next month.
“He’s under investigation by the integrity unit so we couldn’t pick him,” Meninga said.
“His name was mentioned but he wasn’t allowed to play, which is fine. I’m one of the last people that condones what Val did. We’re comfortable with our decision making and where the game is at with Val.”
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Zac Lomax will likely start in the centres next week, but Meninga faces a selection headache next month when players from the six teams left in the finals become available for the national side.
“We’ve got Hamiso (here) and Bradman Best is still playing in the competition,” he said.
“We’re looking keenly on what Val Holmes is doing at the moment and the response from the game because we’re not quite sure what’s happening there.
“We’ve got Murray Taulagi who can play there and we’ve got a number of players that we can condition to play in the centre position. It’s something we can look at as the finals series goes on.”
That could include Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs, who has been in outstanding form, but he is yet to indicate whether he even wants to represent Australia given he’s already played for Tonga.
Best has had his injury concerns over the years but is in career-best form this season and bagged a double in his Blues debut.
“He played really well (in Origin) and he’s had a terrific year,” Meninga said.
“He needs to be in the picture when we talk about a centre or a left centre in our game.”
Meninga would have loved to have picked Mitchell, who was tremendous for the Kangaroos at the World Cup but has been ruled out due to a serious finger injury that requires surgery.
“It’s disappointing all the way around,” the Australia coach said.
“He’s got that injury with his finger. I’ve talked with the club and it’s an injury that he’ll need surgery on, and it’s an injury that will take quite a long time to recover from.
“It’s been a long year for Latrell and the club. They’ve had their ups and downs, and they need a fit Latrell playing in 2024. We’re right behind the club with their decision.”
There was speculation that departing Raider Jack Wighton could make himself available for the Tests to have his three-game ban for biting reduced, but Meninga says the veteran hasn’t told him anything about coming out of rep retirement.
“That’s not true,” he said.
“That’s innuendo based on maybe a lack of depth in the centres. Maybe that’s where it’s all come from, but I haven’t talked to Jack and that’s never been mentioned.”
