Josh should be right at Holmes at Waratahs

Its amazing that you can have such a talented player like Josh Holmes and not utilize him while he is in his prime – he has one of the BEST passes in Australian rugby by far! Mr Holmes has so much to offer to Australian Rugby and I would have to agree with you, David Lord, he would have to be the most under-rated halfback going around. LeftArmSpinner – Yes Holmes is a player of great potential with a lot more to give. In saying that give the guy a break – He has had chances yes, but very few (in quantity and time) – and when he has come on the field he has come on as an impact player – creating far more opportunities than Brendan McKibbon. Perfect example is first round last season – Holmes put Palu through a hole in the dying minutes to win the first round Darby against the Queensland Reds – hows that for reading the game and assisting others. Further more – if you have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off before people start to think you are a “stand out player” that’s a scary thought for Australia Rugby, in saying that I guess you only watch the last 3-4 min of the game or the bench. For someone who has had to deal with a hard bush with politics associated with sport along side the rejection and adversities over the years as such a young player – he has conducted himself in a very professional manner – its always easy to be a critic but in the end he will have the last laugh... he continues to grow as a player and will – its a shame NSW rugby has done nothing for themselves to recognise this...

I would have thought his game for the Rats against the Marlins answered all the questions. The Waratahs need to find a new half. David, may be a need to play closer attention...

I can't fault the various super coaches he has had for benching / not playing him - Natural attributes and lots of media hype do not automatically equal a first class super / international player. He got the chance to compete for the starting job at the Brumbies (and even started for a while), but I remember him only being pretty average at best. For me, that says he probably wasn't ready for top class rugby at the time. If he is able to force his way back into a reserve or starting spot through performing well in training and in the opportunities he is given, that's great - but given Burgess's form (and those who have seen my other posts will know I'm not a huge Burgess fan) it's hard to fault Hickey for continuing to play him so far this year. Sounds like he will probably get a bit more focus now that Burgess has signed to move to France - here's hoping that he can take full advantage of the opportunity! As for McKibbon, I haven't seen him play much for the Tahs, but when he played for the Reds a few years back, he was actually quite solid - had a quick pass and good acceleration around the edge of the ruck. Was sorry to see him leave, but understandable once Lucas and Genia started to come of age (and Kingi was coming up through the ranks).

Having an alias on the internet is not akin to hiding, more like trying to keep a degree of privacy in a world where less and less privacy is the norm (have a look at the personal info people post on Facebook). Having said that, I could just make up a name, such as Louis Werth, from Newport Sydney, and you would be none the wiser. How about Bob Davies, from Canberra? Is that really me? I doubt it...

Totally agree AJ and Brett M below. I saw Josh Holmes playing for the Australian U19's where he stood out as a player and captain. At every level above this he has 'dwindled'. In the few run on games he has had in Super Rugby he has displayed: 1. A slow pass. 2. Slow and frequently poor option taking and speed around the park. He has just not been anywhere near the level required and needs to up his speed and aggro around the rucks - which given his size shouldn't be that hard. The guy has is young and clearly has potential so I hope someone gives him a consistent run and gets a rocket up him. However David Lords talk of a Wallaby call up at present is utter claptrap. Based on form he is currently behind (IMHO in preference order) Genia, Phipps, Burgess, Sheehan/Phibbs but not Valentine who is the worst S15 halfback going. Not sure why the Brumbies keep picking him? Brett M?

Lucas is a bit different from Holmes in that he was consistently one of the Reds' best (to me similar to Hynes - not a dominating player but one who reliably did everything well and made few mistakes). He didn't tail off in performance - rather, he got injured in 2009. Genia, given the opportunity, stepped up a gear. By the time Lucas came back, Genia deserved to stay as number 1, and it's been all him ever since. Again, that's more a function of Genia having gone to another level, rather than Lucas having failed in any way. That Lucas is first choice now in another spot (which requires some different skills) suggests he's a pretty good footballer. He could still go back to 9 (and cover 10) if required - and, I suspect, do a very good job. As for Holmes - I've always wondered what happened to him, having seen the Farr-Jones comparisons. Opportunity can be a problem, although the cream usually rises regardless. Let's hope that does happen.

Like (I suspect) a lot of people I'm hiding how much time I spent on here when I should be working!

Josh Holmes should be encouraged by the ARU to join Michael O'Connor's Australian sevens squad full-time. He is the perfect sevens player but, unfortunately, doesn't cut it at anything above Shute Shield level in fifteen-a-side.

Holmes to me was a good half back but not that brilliant he did promise to be better but didn't get any better, now he has been usurped by McGibben. He may be better to have a go in another position aka like Hougaard for the bulls and the Springboks. I was actually pleased to see him at centre a couple of season ago as he is quite big and should handle that position quite well, I have a young son who is 17 and is big for a half back and he occasionally plays inside and outside centre he has top defence and even though he is great half back he is also really good at centre because he has speed off the mark and can pass both sides and kick really well due to the skills necessary for the half back position. So Josh Holmes should have got a gong instead of Hangers in the last game IMO he has got to be a better prospect than Hangers who in my book is just a club player add to that Holmes is bigger than Hangers and quicker. Maybe next season he will get some game time in some capacity in the backline, however I would think its about McGibben's time to shine he is really good and with an opportunity he will be the goods.

Josh Holmes is one you used to hear a lot about a few years ago - how he was 'Nick Farr-Jones like' and the next big thing. As I posted the other day re comparisons between Beale and Ella, those comparisons and expectations are almost always counter-productive. Ben Lucas is another who was touted as the next big thing up in Queensland a few years back. I'm happy to this season start to see some of what others had seen in him. There could be many reasons for this late(ish) resurgence but I honestly think having that weight of expectation lifted helps these guys - they stop trying too hard and/or playing to defend a reputation and not make mistakes. As far as rugby goes, we need more good 9s and 10s in this country so I wish them both all the best. PS. Yes, yes. I know in rugby terms we need a lot of other things too - good front rowers, gutsy 2nd rowers,...

Sorry to be a stickler but it was 2009 that Holmes played 12 for the Rats with Sheehan at halfback, Sam Harris playing five-eighth and Haig Sare at 13. Last year the Rats had Holmes at 9, Sheehan 10 and Harris 12. McKibbin did win the Ken Catchpole medal last season after winning the Alex Evans medal the year before in Brisbane. He also apparently had a huge off-season while I Holmes was injured for part of it hence why McKibbin is ahead of Holmes at the moment

Louis, that sounds like you're agreeing with me...

I agree with most of what you have said. Bay35Pablo and 10min is insulting to both the player and the supporter Play the Player or leave him on the bench 10min subs is STUPID!

Halfback is a problem, in that it is disruptive to change mid game unless forced. If it is a tight game do you really want to change 9 unless your existing 9 is having an absolute shocker? If it is a cakewalk, do you really get to see much from the 10 minutes or so the bench player gets, when everyone say "it was a cakewalk anyway, so anyone would look good ..."? Can't win. Burgess has had some shocking games, and still seems to want to make every pass a SydneyHarbour Bridge, or a challenge for his team mates in either passing it at their head or above, or to players from a standing start. But then he also has some good games. He does however seem a protected species. However, Burgess going overseas reveals the problems with the 9 position. He is permanently on the Wallabies bench behind Genia. He is Genia's Holmes/McKibbin!!! And clearly Burgess is no Whittaker, in willing to sit around forever. Understandably. Whits deserved a sainthood for his patience and team ethic. Given we are likely to have a new head coach next season, both Holmes and McKibbin should have a gut busting pre-season for 2012 trying to impress .... PS Tahs being picked due to rep rather than form!!! No!!!! And we're struggling why ... ? PPS Louis Werth, I might use a nom de guerre, but you can find out my real name if you really want. When the Roar gives me a columnist gig, I'll use the real name ... :)

Brett, 1. I will pick Sheehan as half back in a club game before any other halfback in Australia. ie can Genia kick? 2. McKibbon is a club footballer everyone know that! (maybe that's why Hickey likes him) Nick Phipps is being groomed by Rod Mac Queen no wonder he is performing. The weakness in Australia is not the players it is weak coaches take Mac & Mc out of the equation and we have very little but guys that take instructions from Dean, players and then tragically probably watch and appreciate the bias views that is expressed on Fox sport.

Point is he is criticised not developed and with coaches like Hickey who serves master Deans are you surprised. Further to this if he was given the support Burgess was he would be in the Wallaby team a half back that cant pass?? well Deans has also selected a stand off that can't tackle. so why am I surprised! Good luck for the world cup Deans keep looking for your new Blackadder, Mc Caw, and Carter after all they who made your career in super 14 so far your international career is very chequered. Throwing away Smith and Gerrard "et al "strategy has not worked wonders but people will say wait for the world cup. - it takes more than a Cooper and a Rabbit to win a world cup !

Josh Holmes was a very good player at u19 level, and then played very well for Western Sydney in the ARC and went to the Brumbies in search of more rugby, and while he and Patrick Phibbs pushed each a lot, neither really made the no.9 their own. Holmes went back to NSW and has never really kicked on, which has been disappointing. The potential was and is there for all to see, but something hasn't clicked. Two factors stick out for me: 1. He spent a good deal of time last season at 12 for Warringah, so he couldn't unseat Brett Sheehan, and 2. The Waratahs chases Nick Phipps hard, to replace Burgess. Holmes has been leapfrogged in the pcking order by McKibbon already..

David, I'm afraid Max is correct, the Brumbies made it widely known when the ARU imposed smaller squad sizes a few years ago that they would only contract two halfbacks, one of which was going to be Josh Valentine. Holmes then chose to return to NSW, Phibbs was retained and James Stannard was the man left out.. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/phibbs-wins-battle-of-brumby-nines/story-e6frg7mf-1225710636535

My reading of Holmes, in his Super games at half to date, is that he appears to try not to do anything wrong rather than chance his arm and have a go. Could this be because he has generally been the new boy, or replacement player called up due to injury, and didn't possess the authority needed to grab a game by the balls and chance his arm?

Holmes did well in ARC and then in games that I saw, was hopeless in the next level up and it's cost him.It is a shame because someone like Valentine is found wanting regularly yet still starts every week,the force bloke is a terrier but limited,Burgess pass is just embarrassing for a full time professional and always has been.My point is that a number of frontline super halfbacks seem to be tolerated and the subs/newbies dont get a run.I watched alot of Mckibbin in club rugby but havent seen him get alot of time for the waratahs,although i wouldnt expect him to go much higher.It's great to see Phipps on the scene and a feather in the extra franchise cap-otherwise he might in an academy stuck behind a mediocre protected species.