NRL stars Jason Taumalolo and Valentine Holmes’ stocks in the NFL are on the rise.
A week after they worked out for 14 NFL teams including the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers in Los Angeles, two new teams – not represented by scouts at the two-hour session – have shown interest in signing the duo.
AAP understands they might offer invites to Taumalolo and Holmes to fly to the US for individual workouts.
The interest comes as National Football Scouting (NFS) president Jeff Foster, who ran the session at LA’s Loyola High School, sent video from the day to NFL teams.
The video clips shot by NFS show North Queensland’s Dally M-winning forward Taumalolo and Cronulla winger Holmes undergoing athletic tests and skills, including the 40-yard dash, cone drills and speed and agility exercises where they were required to catch a gridiron ball on the run.
NFL scouts and player personnel directors will analyse the information to determine if their skills will translate to American football and whether to invite the players back to the US for individual workouts.
They will also examine footage from their NRL games.
Attending the LA session were scouts from the Jets, Eagles, 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, LA Rams, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers and the Seattle Seahawks.
The players’ Australian manager Chris Orr said four NFL teams immediately expressed interest in Taumalolo and Holmes.
“We have had a lot of interest since the workout and it all seems extremely positive and well received,” Orr said.
“I am now letting Jason and Valentine enjoy their much-deserved break.”
Both players, who were inspired by rugby league international Jarryd Hayne’s stint last year with the 49ers, said it would be a dream come true if they were signed by a NFL team.
They are contracted to their NRL teams for 2017 and say they will fulfil their contracts, but that could be tested if NFL teams attempt to entice them to the US for the 2017/18 season.
soapit
Guest
hayne was in his prime but would have been past it by the time he peaked in nfl. i agree tho that these two will be better positioned being younger.
Doubles
Guest
If Hayne who was past him prime can get that far in the NFL, i`m sure these much younger two could do it easily..
Terry
Guest
One massive difference is that NRL players are tough, resilient and much fitter.. NFL players breakdown an awful lot..
The spectator
Guest
Why is the nrl allowing them to trial with nfl scouts, oh wait! Amature hr at the top, the hr that keeps on giving, lol.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Agreed x10. NFL is much harder than NRL....except for the cardio aspect. NRL cardio demands are clearly much much harder.
CALM CHEEN
Guest
"They are contracted to their NRL teams for 2017 and say they will fulfil their contracts, but that could be tested if NFL teams attempt to entice them to the US for the 2017/18 season." Entice them on a quarter of what they earn in Australia ....NOT GOING TO HAPPEN .
Dave
Guest
Lets not get carried away with this toe in the water with NFL on account of these these two wonderfully talented Rugby league players. They have simply tried out at athleticism, running and catching. They did good, because they are fit and talented...as are the thousands of college actual NFL players looking for contracts there. The game is so different to the NRL and therein lies the problem. They have passed the similar disciplines with flying colours. Now comes the hard part. Remembering the many plays before the plays, the fact that they need to run onto the space the QBack is passing to, the thinking about how and when to beat the defender. Hayne is also a magnificent athlete. He has all the skills in our game but didn't make it. He may have if he stayed longer, however, the NFL is ruthless with its retention policy, mainly because of the said pool of talent in the colleges. You either make it from day 1 or you perish. I think JT will struggle with remembering his number let alone the many plays involved. Holmes is a little smaller that the average NFL player and with that comes the issues of perseverance of knowing the plays and building him up. This trail was when all the teams are at the height of their season, and I believe no coach even bothered to turn up to the trial. This was a mickey mouse trial, one of many before the rosters are set for 2018. The boys went well at running and catching, good luck tot them, but lets get the thing in context. I think both are so far away from the NFL it's not funny.