Veteran Queensland centre Valentine Holmes expects under-fire rookies Selwyn Cobbo and Murray Taulagi to put disappointing performances in Origin II behind them and show their best in Wednesday’s Origin decider.
Cobbo had a night to forget on the wing in Perth, missing five of seven attempted tackles and making three handling errors, in addition to failing to capitalise on a couple of try-scoring opportunities early in the match.
Taulagi also struggled at times and spilled a bomb which led to Daniel Tupou scoring early in the second half.
But Holmes credited both players for returning to their respective NRL sides and playing well last weekend, and was quick to dismiss concerns that their confidence may have been dented.
“For those two guys, I thought they went back to club land and played really well,” Holmes said ahead of Game III at Suncorp Stadium.
“Coming back into camp they’ll be a bit confident from that.
“That’s just how you get better, you play with confidence, you have confidence around the guys you’re with and the coaching staff we have.
Match Highlights: Blues v Maroons
“I am sure they won’t be making those mistakes again.
“Especially with Murray, [who] obviously I know from playing alongside him [at the Cowboys], I talk to him all the time about that stuff, we don’t mean to make errors out there.
“It’s a very competitive sport and it happens, as long as you aren’t encountering those errors all the time.
“Cobbo is the same, he’s a talent, he just likes to chance his arm and we have all seen what he has done this year in his first year.
He [Cobbo] is a confident kid and I am expecting those two to have a good game.
Valentine Holmes
Holmes was one of nine Cowboys players selected for Queensland and New South Wales for the decider, before prop Jordan McLean withdrew from the Blues with a hamstring injury on Thursday afternoon, making them the most represented NRL club across the two squads.
Ponga steps up to put Holmes over
While the Panthers will still have the biggest contingent come kick off, with seven players set to start for the Blues, Holmes said the selection haul is a sign of how well things are going at the third-placed Cowboys.
“It’s a massive credit to the way we have all been playing and a massive credit to the coaching staff and the way they have made us play,” Holmes said.
“To have nine players is unreal… it’s awesome to see everyone there and obviously a massive achievement to see how far we are going as a club.”
The Maroons took part in an opposed training session with Queensland Hostplus Cup side the Papua New Guinea Hunters on Thursday as they build towards Wednesday night.