Valentine Holmes has been sidelined for the rest of the 2025 season due to a significant shoulder injury, which poses a serious setback for the Dragons’ ambitions of making the finals. The 29-year-old winger will undergo surgery to address a rotator cuff injury in his left shoulder, sustained during the club’s recent 31-24 defeat against the Roosters on Saturday.
The injury occurred in the match’s final 20 minutes when Holmes was brought down by his Maroons teammate, Lindsay Collins, just short of the try line. Though visibly in pain, he managed to continue playing briefly, but the toll of the tackle saw him clutching his shoulder as he got back on his feet. Collins’ tackle resulted in a set restart for the Dragons, and they capitalised on it with Jaydn Su’A managing to score, thereby reducing the score gap.
In the commentary booth, Steve Roach remarked on the ferocity of the tackle, describing it as impressive. Although Holmes was initially cleared to play in their upcoming match against the Bulldogs, a follow-up assessment revealed the severity of his condition.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has expressed concern over their injuries but emphasised the team’s resilience in dealing with such challenges. Unfortunately, Holmes’ injury means he will miss the rest of the season, with hopes to return in the next season’s opening match against the reigning champions in Las Vegas. The Dragons will now have to navigate the remainder of the season without one of their key players.