NRL star Valentine Holmes has already taken a $25,000 hit on a white powder photo, but his new punishment makes that seem like a small change
- Valentine Holmes risks another heavy financial penalty
- Already fined $25,000 by the NRL and handed a one-match ban
- Follows shocking image that circulated on Instagram
Valentine Holmes is expected to be hit with a heavy financial penalty from the North Queensland Cowboys following the infamous photo of a bag of white powder he posted on Instagram earlier this month.
Holmes, 28, is convinced the image – which showed the Queensland Origin and Kangaroos center with a bag of white powder between his teeth – was a prank between friends that got out of hand.
The Sharks’ 2016 premiership winner was this week fined $25,000 by the NRL and will also serve a one-game sentence for bringing the game into disrepute.
And now it’s the Cowboys’ turn to potentially reprimand the representative star, who has a contract worth $4 million.
The club has reportedly imposed another fine of $25,000 plus a suspended fine of up to $50,000.
Valentine Holmes is expected to receive a heavy financial penalty from the North Queensland Cowboys after this infamous photo he posted on Instagram earlier this month
The 28-year-old has already received $25,000 from the NRL and was handed a one-match ban for bringing the sport into disrepute
Cowboys CEO Jeff Reibel confirmed the club has yet to decide on penalties for the Holmes photo saga.
“We still have to find a solution,” he said News Corp.
‘Val was asked to appear before the board and did so.
‘We are considering this now and will look to finalize this in the coming days, once we have completed our due diligence.’
A guide to possible action in the photo can be found in the case of Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster, who was pictured with a bag of white powder in a scandal that came to light in September 2021.
Munster and then teammate Brandon Smith were questioned by the NRL Integrity Unit over leaked mobile phone footage showing them in a hotel room with a mystery substance on a coffee table.
The five-eighth champion was also seen in a second clip in which he danced shirtless on a table while holding a small bag of white powder.
The Queensland Origin star insists he did not use illegal drugs and that the photo was a prank that went wrong
The Cowboys flyer (pictured with wife Natalia) had a great year on the field, starring home state Queensland and breaking a club record
The NRL was also rocked by a white powder scandal in September 2021, when Melbourbe Storm star Cameron Munster was recorded with a bag containing a mysterious white substance (pictured)
It was reported that the footage was taken shortly after the Melbourne Storm were knocked out of the 2021 finals series by eventual premiers Penrith.
Munster was fined $30,000 by the NRL and given a suspended fine of $100,000 by his club, as well as being dropped from the Storm leadership group.
Holmes’ last game of the season came on 2 September when his Cowboys were eliminated from the finals in a 44–12 loss to Penrith.
He played for Queensland in their win over NSW in the State of Origin series this year and broke the Cowboys scoring record when he scored 30 points from two tries and 11 goals in the 74-0 win over hapless Wests Tigers in Round 18 .
The back was overlooked by coach Mal Meninga during the Prime Minister’s XIII match against Papua New Guinea on September 23 – and is not expected to feature when the Kangaroos face Samoa (October 14) and New Zealand (October 28 ) tackle.