Here’s a sigh of relief for St. George Illawarra Dragons fans: Valentine Holmes is set to take the field in Round 1 against the Canterbury Bulldogs, despite recent social media buzz suggesting otherwise. But here's where it gets controversial—a snippet of a video surfaced on Thursday, seemingly showing Holmes clutching his hamstring, sparking fears of a potential injury setback. Fans were quick to jump to conclusions, especially since he wasn’t named for this weekend’s final pre-season challenge against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. However, the club has clarified that the video was actually from weeks ago, and Holmes has fully recovered from his early January hamstring injury. The decision to rest him this weekend was purely precautionary, a move that, while sensible, might still leave some fans scratching their heads.
In a statement to Zero Tackle, the Dragons confirmed, 'Valentine Holmes has recovered from a hamstring injury that occurred in early January. He was available for selection in this weekend’s Charity Shield match against the Rabbitohs, but a decision has been made that he will not play. He will be ready to line up in the Round One season opener against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas.'
And this is the part most people miss—Holmes, one of the Dragons’ most seasoned players, will once again play a pivotal role for Shane Flanagan’s side in 2026. After a 2025 season marred by injuries that saw the Dragons slip into the bottom four, despite impressive wins against three of the top four teams and narrow losses in six other games, the team is eager to climb the ladder. Holmes, alongside Moses Suli in the centers, is a near-guaranteed starter. The wing positions, however, are up for grabs, with newcomers David Fale and Setu Tu vying for spots against Christian Tuipulotu and Tyrell Sloan. Clint Gutherson will reprise his role at fullback.
The Dragons kick off their season on Sunday, March 1 (Australian time) in Las Vegas against the Bulldogs, before returning to Australian soil on March 14 to face the Melbourne Storm in Wollongong. But here’s the question: Is resting Holmes this weekend the right call, or should the Dragons have risked him for pre-season momentum? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark differing opinions!
