- Valentine Holmes failed a simple try for North Queensland
- The center had the opportunity to reduce his team’s deficit
- He squandered it and the Cowboys lost by two points
Valentine Holmes made an uncharacteristic mistake as the Cowboys suffered defeat to a brave Gold Coast Titans side on Sunday.
The Titans rallied after losing captain Kieran Foran in the 60th minute with a hamstring injury, putting in a brave performance to take home all the points.
But it could have been a different result if Holmes had converted when he had the chance to score a routine try.
With twelve minutes to go, Holmes had the opportunity to reduce the deficit to 20-10, as he appeared to score in the left corner of the field.
He only had Jojo Fifita to beat, but instead of diving for the line, he tried to tackle him but couldn’t, fumbling the ball in the process.
Valentine Holmes missed the chance to win the game for the Cowboys
The North Queensland center opted not to dive for the line and lost the ball
The Cowboys ultimately lost 20-18.
‘Why didn’t he dive, Holmes? Why didn’t he go diving sooner?’ said a stunned Michael Ennis.
“It’s been desperation all afternoon on this side of the Gold Coast. There have been so many moments like this,” Ennis said of Fifita’s efforts.
Holmes was in position to reduce the deficit to 20-10 with 12 minutes remaining as he looked to score in the left corner, with only Jojo Fifita to beat.
Departing Gold Coast forward David Fifita played for the first time since last week and rejected a two-year option to stay with the Titans and join the Sydney Roosters on a four-year contract from next year.
He recorded his first hit and parts of the Robina home crowd responded with a chorus of boos. He also received occasional cheers, but the message was clear.
The crowd of 12,125 soon changed their tune as the boom-back-rower played his part in the first Titans try when he followed and fired a Kieran Foran bomb for Jojo Fifita to score.
Fifita did it all himself for the Titans’ next try, using his massive frame as a battering ram to score from close range.
The first half was a cavalcade of stupid football from the Cowboys.
That stupidity went into overdrive when winger Semi Valemei kicked a Foran bomb instead of trying to catch it. Brimson scored and it was 20-0 at halftime.
Foran, who put in a storming defensive performance, plus Brimson and Jojo Fifita were sensational for the home side.
Brimson saved what looked like a certain effort from Cowboy winger Kyle Feldt with a desperation effort into the corner after the break.
After Foran left the field, the Cowboys scored as Jeremiah Nanai chased down a Chad Townsend grubber kick. Townsend crossed Nanai for his second before the experienced half delivered a cutout pass onto the chest of winger Kyle Feldt.
Feldt sailed to the line in the final minutes when a pack of Titans thundered him over the sideline.
The Gold Coast Titans put in a gutsy performance to win the match on Sunday night
The Cowboys’ season is now in freefall after their fifth straight loss.
Bench forward Jason Taumalolo and fullback Scott Drinkwater did their best to light the side on fire, but they had few friends until it was too late.
The Titans’ defense on their goal line was top-notch and the best they have delivered this season. To a man, they put their bodies on the line and that was necessary.
Second rower Beau Fermor had his best race of the season after missing last year with a cruciate ligament rupture.