Valentine Holmes this week has confirmed on social media he will walk away from the Cronulla Sharks and rugby league to pursue a career in the NFL, effective immediately.
The 23-year-old has played 105 NRL games, five State of Origin matches for Queensland and represented Australia 13 times.
It had been rumoured the premiership winner was in high demand with an all-out fight been the Cronulla Sharks and North Queensland Cowboys throwing all the money they had at the superstar.
The latest was Holmes was offered $5 million to stay at the Shire, which would have made him the highest-paid player in the Sharks history.
I applaud the young man. Why not have a crack at the hugely popular sport, especially if it has been a lifelong ambition to play in the NFL?
I mean, the kid is 23, he could have a decent crack at the American sport over a five-year period and still come back a stronger and bigger player than when he left rugby league.
This would be in stark contrast of Jarryd Hayne’s attempt at the ripe age of 28.
Since the announcement, the overall reaction to the news has been positive, except for his Sharks captain Paul Gallen.
Gallen has called for Holmes to be banned from playing in the NRL again.
What purpose does this serve?
This is absolutely ludicrous to ban a player for simply following a new career path, particular with the free publicity the NRL are going to gain from any success Holmes has from this venture.
Gallen told the Nine Network he couldn’t see how this was good for the integrity of the game.
What damage has Holmes possible done to rugby league by switching to gridiron?
I can think of something else that did in-fact saw the integrity of the game take a hit.
Paul Gallen (right), and Valentine Holmes of the Sharks during happier times. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Peptides, performance-enhancing your body to get the edge over your opponent.
I hate to break it to you Paul but cheating is what effects the integrity of the game, not merely switching to a new sport.
Before any of the keyboard warriors lose their minds and start defending him by saying he didn’t know he was getting pumped with, I just want to say one thing.
Gallen, as well as his teammates, admitted guilt the moment they accepted their bans.
There is enough education around the game which affirms it is the sole responsibility of the athlete themselves to stay clean, not the clubs, not the coach and certainly not old mate down the road at the local supplements shop.
I know because I have gone through the education with the NRL myself.
Blaming the club and/or the medical staff is no different to Shane Warne blaming his Mum, yet he was rubbed out of cricket for two years.
I can understand why he is upset, Holmes will be a huge void to fill.
But please, spare me the lecture about the integrity of the game and focus on signing a new fullback.
Andrew Roberts
Guest
When I watched Gallen smack a Queenslander or hit up the ball for his team so many times, with a passion, I dont give a fig about his integrity. I love to watch his sheer grit, and I'm a Knights fan. (NB: Welcome big dog Klemmer.)
Lucky Leo
Guest
Hey, Walter are you & Pinkman still in business
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Guest
I've never totally subscribed to the notion that loyalty is this majorly important notion in a business sense. As an NRL player, you are an employee. If you don't perform, you get demoted or sacked. If you perform well, you are rewarded. You claim Gallen has been loyal, but the Sharks have been paying him, right? You can bet every time his contract came up for renewal he asked for as much as he could get. If he didn't, or if he did and the club didn't give it to him, then that's on him. Would a club be expected to top-up or resign a player who isn't performing well? Where is the loyalty there? This is a business. Val Holmes has the same rights as you or I, to work and earn as much as he can or is inclined to, in the time given him. Sure though, he did break his contract, which I don't agree with.
Rob
Guest
If the club doesn't want the player it's alright. But if the player doesn't want the club it's wrong? Holmes asked for a release to go home the Sharks wouldn't let him go 1 year early even after 4 years of service. Val left home at 17 and sacrificed a lot for the Sharks helping them win their first Premiership. Not sure he owes them if he wanted to return home? What does Gallen think of Josh Dogan's character? The Sharks also picked up Luke Lewis and Ben Barba who had existing signed contracts. Maloney and Moylan swapped mid season.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
You are correct, and he was carrying that sternum injury. Maybe he is just a quiet guy, but in the few games I saw him play, he looked a little disinterested. With his extra weight he might end up as a good replacement for th vacant lock position.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Based on all the expert tips last season, none of us really know what's going to happen. Plenty of teams are capable of winning it in 19 and a fully fit Sharks outfit with Holmes on board wouldn't be favorites at the start but they couldn't be ruled out. Plenty were ruling the Chooks out in 18 because their pack was pedestrian. I can clearly recall posters on here declaring the Cows and Broncos were heading for an almost certain GF replay in 16 halfway thru the season but neither made it.
Emcie
Roar Guru
THe only difference is your own perceptions into what went on behind doors
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
The Broncos willingly let McGuire go to create cap space for other prospects. Mid-contract but they were not forced to release him because he didn't want to be there. Stark contrast to what's happened with Holmes. And McGuire can be covered quite comfortably with the young roster they've got, Holmes is somewhat irreplaceable. Very different circumstances
Emcie
Roar Guru
We'll see I guess, but to be fair he hasn't really had a chance to do anything yet
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Emcie, as a fellow Broncs supporter, I wish that Gallen and Flanagan were better with their persuasive powers in respect to Bird.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Gallen has always been a disgrace both on and off the field. I don't know why channel 9 use him as a mouthpiece. Nobody ever takes him seriously. Great player? Nobody can deny that he is. But he's a grub and nobody respects him or his opinions.
Emcie
Roar Guru
So assuming you're right and the sharks had absolutely no power in this situation and were forced to release Holmes despite having a contract in their favour, how exactly is that different to the circumstances around the Broncos releasing McGuire? Or are Cronulla the only team powerless to player demands and adversly affected by players not wanting to be there? Given my original comment was highlighting how different each clubs reaction was to their players being released I'm not sure what you're trying to prove here....
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
So because the Sharks were left with no other option but to entertain his release, he didn't walk out? Lose the righteous BS, he let people down by doing that. Yes, they could have prevented him from leaving, but tell me - what good is a player who no longer wants to be there any good for the club? His head will be elsewhere he'd be so useless he might as well be the ball boy
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
yeah give me time when a decision Gallen made had serious ramifications for a club in terms of player retention and recruitment. They bent over backwards for Val and he just walks off - so I think you've got this the other way around
Big Daddy
Guest
Thanks . couldn't remember who supported him and who didn't. I think maybe NRL wished him well. Now they want to stop . Very insecure .
Phast Phil
Guest
Real men don't racially abuse, deliberately go out and hurt people. Real footballers can pass the ball within 10 metres of the opposition tryline
Nat
Roar Guru
Exactly the combination required for a media 'personality' though.
Emcie
Roar Guru
He didn't walk out on them, he negotiated a release just like McGuire. The ball was very much in the Sharks court. I mean come on, in what world is a multimillion dollar organisation powerless to stop a currently contracted employee walking out without their consent? Sorry, but I'm not going to buy into it every time the Sharks play the victim card when something doesn't go their way.
Kramer
Guest
If you have a job Adam I hope it’s the only one you ever have...because if you leave and go some where else you won’t be living up to your values and you would be a massive hypocrite!
Leeroy
Guest
I don’t blame Gal and others being upset. Walking out on your club whilst still on contract is a poor thing to do and it is bad for the game because it will open the doors for a lot of others to do it. Contracts should be honoured by both players and clubs.