Dragons star Valentine Holmes has opened up on the "bad limelight" he found himself in and the "hard talks" with his wife that followed.
While his career has been filled with incredible highs at club and representative level, Holmes also found himself on the other end of life as a professional athlete.
In 2016, the superstar centre was fined for public nuisance and obstructing Queensland Police during a camp with the Emerging Maroons squad, which saw him dropped by Cronulla for that year's Auckland Nines tournament.
READ MORE: 'Optics are terrible': New job for Hardwick's partner probed
Holmes bounced back in that same year, winning a premiership with the Sharks, before enjoying an incredible rise which included State of Origin and World Cup triumphs, as well as a brief stint overseas chasing his NFL dream with the New York Jets.
Valentine Holmes celebrates winning the 2022 State of Origin series. Â Getty
His return with the Cowboys on a long-term deal saw Holmes return to form and cement himself as one of the game's outside backs, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing.
At the end of the 2023 season, Holmes found himself in hot water after a photo was circulated on social media of the North Queensland star holding a bag of white powder.
As a result, Holmes was issued a one-game suspension by the NRL, as well as club-imposed sanctions that saw him out of pocket $50,000.
Speaking about some of his darker moments, Holmes admitted he could have "fallen down a trap" if it weren't for the support of his family and wife Natalia.
"They all knew it was just uncharacteristic," he told Nine's Marlee and Me.
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Valentine Holmes during his time with the Cowboys. Â Getty
"I've been in the bad limelight and they just knew it wasn't me. You're gonna get tempted in certain ways and do certain things that you probably don't like.
"To get through that, you need that stable base and to have that from my family and partner is what really helps. If I was single at the time and didn't have a family that supported me, who knows what could have happened.
"I could have fallen down a trap and gone even further or decided to give it up."
Holmes also detailed the conversations with his partner and why his newfound perspective has been aided by becoming a parent.
View post on InstagramÂ
"She had to come to me," he admitted.
"I don't like confrontation and hard talks and she's all for that. It obviously hurt her as well – they were tough talks but good talks that I needed to grow up.
"There's a lot of young kids and even kids coming through the NRL now who are probably looking up to me and seeing the standards I'm trying to set.
"Especially now having kids, I want to be a good idol or hero for my boys."
The 29-year-old, who has joined St George Illawarra for the next three seasons, will be an integral part of Shane Flanagan's desire to take the club back to the finals.
While his on-field exploits will no doubt be a major boost for the joint venture, Holmes also recognises his role in helping the next generation of Dragons stars.
Valentine Holmes alongside his new teammates. Â Getty
"As much as I'd like to say don't make silly mistakes, everyone is human," he said.
"You're probably gonna make them, so just own it and have a good network around you. Have the talks with your family, they are probably tough … really learn from it.Â
"It took me a long time to realise what limelight you're in. There's a lot of eyes on you and obviously that's what you sign up for. The goods and bads, they all come with it.
"A lot of people go through some tough times and struggle in areas that they probably wish they could take back, but that's what makes you who you are.
"You live through that and learn from it and it makes you more of a human being, because you are making mistakes. Nobody is perfect and I know I'm certainly not, I've made a lot of mistakes and done a lot of good things as well."Â
Marlee Silva's full interview with Valentine Holmes will be released on Sunday.