Holdsworth replaces Kimmorley
DANIEL Holdsworth could have thrown in the towel. Taken his bat and ball and gone home. He could have looked at the handful of people lining the field at the Crest as he played glorified park football for Bankstown City and said "What am I doing here?''
He could have looked at the handful of people lining the field at the Crest as he played glorified park football for Bankstown City and said "What am I doing here?''
After all this was the kid brought to the Bulldogs to replace Braith Anasta. The kid who was once labelled the next Trent Barrett. The kid, who during his 57 first grade games for the Bulldogs, rarely put a foot wrong.
"Na. I just put my head down and kept playing,'' Holdsworth said. "I just kept at it.''
And that's why Kevin Moore knows the 25-year-old they call "DJ'' will do the job when he takes over from injured ace Brett Kimmorley on Friday night.
When he attempts to become the Bulldogs premiership saviour by filling the shoes of the club's No.1 playmaker. "It is just tremendous that we can bring in someone who has played over 80 NRL games,'' Moore said as Kimmorley arrived home after having a plate inserted in his injured cheek.
"I mean he has played about 10 games for us this year and he knows our style of play inside out. He will just step in and do the job. Daniel has been a big part of the club for the last few years and has been a big part of the club's success. I have every confidence in him.''
Holdsworth had opportunities to leave the club during the year. **The Tigers made a play at him as he languished in the NSW Cup, as did** **others.** But Holdsworth knuckled down. He took the 14km run from Dairy Farmers Stadium to Townsville while his teammates caught the bus.
He went to the Crest with a smile on his face. And now he gets his chance on rugby league's biggest stage during the finals series.
"I'm just really excited about it,'' Holdsworth said. "It isn't good for Noddy (Kimmorley), but it is a good opportunity for me. I knew I was only going to get another crack if someone got injured but I will take it. I am just going to go out there and give it my best.''
Holdsworth has more than a premiership on his mind. The Perth junior is off-contract at the end of the year and playing for his future. "I'm not worrying about too much,'' Holdsworth said.
"Iam just going to go out there and fit into the team's structure and play my role. I have played there a couple of times this year and I will just play they way I know how. Noddy is his own player and a damn good half but I'll just be out there doing my best.''
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/holdsworth-replaces-kimmorley/story-e6frexnr-1225768534370
