Cronulla and Queensland Maroons winger Valentine Holmes is one step closer to achieving his dream of playing in the NFL, after the Sharks granted the player an immediate release from his contract.
According to Fox Sports, the Sharks have released a statement, which reads;
“This news brings great disappointment to the Cronulla Sharks who have worked hard to re-sign Holmes to a five-year extension, which would have made him the highest paid player in the Club’s history,”
Also according to Fox, if Holmes fails to land a contract while in the US, he will only be allowed to play for Cronulla if he returns to the NRL.
Rumours of a move to the US were first reported by the The Daily Telegraph’s Phil “Buzz” Rothfield, in the midst of intense contract negotiations between Holmes, the Sharks and the North Queensland Cowboys as to his playing future.
Holmes reportedly unsuccessfully trialled for the NFL in 2016, roughly a year after Jarryd Hayne’s unsuccessful eight-game stint with the San Francisco 49ers.
Hayne was easily the most high-profile Australian in the NFL, after he left rugby league at the height of his powers in 2015. He was released halfway through his debut season, however, after fumbling three times in eight matches.
There are currently six Australian athletes on NFL rosters right now, Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles) and Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks) both being drafted earlier this year, while Cameron Johnson (Eagles), Adam Gotsis (Denver Broncos), Lachlan Edwards (New York Jets) and Jordan Berry (Pittsburgh Steelers) are all in the league.
Ex-AFL players have typically been the most successful in the NFL, however, with Darren Bennett, Mat McBriar and Saverio Rocca all enjoying careers of 100 games or more, while Ben Graham played 99 matches as a punter in the mid-2000s.
Johnno2
Guest
Leave , shut the gate ,don't come back to league !!
Don
Roar Rookie
Understand. I’ve had non compete clauses in my employment contracts. Unusual in Aus sports though.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Why? It happens in business all the time. The sharks didn't have to grant him a release so it's no surprise that they'd look after their own interests when they did.
Don
Roar Rookie
I cannot envisage an agreement where a player manager has effectively allowed a non compete agreement for one of his clients. Maybe this will just be a gap year? I dunno. But reckon there’s a lot more pointing towards a deal being struck early / mid next season for Holmes to go to another side and the Sharks will be able to negotiate with some advantage.
JimboJones
Guest
He's smart enough to leave this sinking ship while he can , and go to the only country in the civilised world being run by a strong leader ....Its the T rump factor .
Emcie
Roar Guru
I get what you're saying but this is more to do with ensuring no funny business goes on then the sharks actually getting him back. I'd say they'd be fairly certain that they've lost him and the only reason there'd be space left for him is if they can't find a replacement. Basicly the sharks are just ensuring they're not getting screwed by a manager looking for a loophole for releasing him on personal grounds. If he comes back and they can't fit him in he has to sit out the season. The sharks went to a lot of effort to secure his services for that time period and the NRL really can't allow other clubs to profit from him attaining a release for non-nrl reasons, it'd set a very dangerous precident.
Don
Roar Rookie
I get that. But again, say he wants to return to the Sharks and they can't afford him because they have picked up a couple of top line replacements and, even if they have a spot, can't afford to pay Holmes? They cannot keep his spot open as every side must have 29 of the mandatory top 30 players signed by March 1, and the remaining spot has to be signed by June 30, but it usually only becomes available due to an unplanned retirement or player release. Whilst they believe they have stopped him going anywhere else should he not get a NFL gig, there'd be an argument to be heard that if he tried to return to the Sharks as per the agreement, but they would be over the cap as a result, he would be entitled to negotiate with other sides.
ferret
Guest
Yep. The competition from home-grown Yanks will be huge. Good luck to Holmes but perhaps he's listening to the wrong people.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Probably. NFL is a VERY different game. Just because it has a ball doesn't make it a cakewalk. He probably needs more size on him for a start. A lot of yanks over there, and they've been playing since they were six years old.
Emcie
Roar Guru
It's not about him playing for the sharks, it's that he can't play for any other nrl club in 2019. If the sharks don't want him he'll have to sit out the year. Same thing happened with SBW, couldn't come back and play for any other club until the time on his original contract was over
Don
Roar Rookie
So...... He leaves to have a crack at the NFL but if he doesn't make it and returns in time he can only return to the Sharks in 2018 and take up the remaining term of his current contract. OK..... What happens should he return in May and the Sharks roster is filled and they have committed their full Salary Cap? And they surely aren't going to leave the allocation for Holmes unspent hoping he comes back. So..... Say he returns in May, goes back to the Sharks, Cronulla then can't fit him in their cap but the Cowboys, Titans or Broncos make him an offer because they have the cap space? I reckon he comes back by May and a release to ta new club is negotiated.
ferret
Guest
Here's my prediction. Like Hayne it will be a short-lived ego indulgence. He'll come back to the Sharkies and the failed attempts by Hayne and Holmes will discourage other high profile league player from chasing their "NFL" dream for a long time.
Jacko
Guest
far out...I guess he also has a dream...Whats he like at 7s Union?
Emcie
Roar Guru
It's less of a "can only play for the sharks" and more of a "can't play for anyone else" if he comes back in 2019, which is fair enough really. That said, I'm surprised the club rolled over so quickly given the reported reactions to the news breaking and how they've handled players leaving previously (even off contract ones).
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
The only sign with the Sharks thing is for 2019 season only. After that he can come back and sign with whoever he likes. The Sharks just want to cover next season which he was contracted to. There was a big money offer on the table for him to stay but I guess he just didn't want to, money is not everything sometimes. Chances are he will have a crack, and be with the Cowboys in 2020 provided he doesn't mind Barba being the fullback. Wish him well.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
As a sports fan it will be interesting to see how he goes but it is another worrying development for clubs and supporters. It seems the ability of coaches and players to break contracts has no boundaries but the ability of clubs to tap a coach or player on the shoulder and tell them to just bugger off despite being under contract is never on unless it suits the player or coach. Manly had all sorts of dramas when they didn't re sign Glenn Stewart despite his contract finishing but if he wanted to leave while under contract a couple of years earlier then presumably the club would be expected to let him go. SBW just buggered off from the Dogs despite signing a long contract from memory. It seems that players and coaches are demanding that clubs honor their contracts but when they want to break the same contract the club is expected to roll over. The idea that Holmes can only sign with the Sharks if he comes back is fine in theory but if they don't get much notice they might not be able to get him under the cap, or in a year or two's time he tells the club that he's not interested in playing for them and he's going to the Cows. The club has to roll over again because who wants their best player publicly stating that he wants to be elsewhere and running the risk that he goes thru the motions if they make him honor his contract?
Big Daddy
Guest
I think there's more to this than we know. My word is he asked for more money and they spent it on getting Morris in and giving gallen another year.
josh
Roar Rookie
Real story does anyone care? The Hayne NFL journey was, at the time, exciting - will he, won't he. We now know what's required, it's tough and the odds are against him. In the meantime there are Australian's playing pretty well in the NFL already. Dickson gets more media attention for a punter than I have seen.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Good luck to Val, I wish him well. Wonder who we are going to slot into fullback now?? Josh Dugan is good for a couple of games a year, maybe Moylan and we buy a proper half. Will be an interesting start to 2019 for the Sharks. Up Up.
josh
Roar Rookie
These days? League contracts have always been flimsy.