Last month Cronulla Sharks and Queensland superstar Valentine Holmes announced that he was quitting rugby league and would pursue a dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL).
This story was hot news for a day or two in Australia, largely because his captain at Cronulla, Paul Gallen, came out publicly and called Holmes selfish, believing he owed his club and his teammates more respect.
The criticism of Holmes by his club captain and later his coach Shane Flanagan was wildly off the mark. Valentine gave up a huge money, long-term contract in a sport in which he excels to have a crack at a game that excites him, but that he has never played. It might be a massive gamble, but it is far from a selfish act.
Valentine Holmes (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Those high up in rugby league circles should be rushing to condemn the players who have been accused of far worse than chasing their dreams in a far-away land. In the past week alone there have been numerous reports of alleged indecent assault and domestic violence involving NRL players and we haven’t heard a peep from those who were the most vocal in their taunting of the code-hopping international winger.
None of the atrocious acts have been proven in a court of law yet so I am not going to delve into the details of these accusations, other than to say that rugby league has copped another black eye under Todd Greenberg’s leadership.
It seems the image of the game continues to suffer, despite Todd being invested heavily in selling rugby league as a pillar of the community. Sadly, I believe Greenberg has failed to recognise that he is in charge of a sport that is not immune to the problems we see in society everyday.
But that is enough commentary on the state of the NRL – as a rugby league winger and big NFL supporter myself, I am excited by Valentine’s quest and have set out to list the top five reasons that he will make an NFL team’s 53-man roster next year:
Reason number one: He is a winger
Val has long argued he is a fullback but there is no doubt he is actually a winger. Wingers rarely have to do much at all in rugby league, other than field the odd kick and take a couple of dummy half runs in a game.
If Val can manage just four kick receptions and run for 50 yards in an NFL game, Americans will be falling over themselves to get him in their fantasy team.
Reason number two: Minimal tackling
Holmes will play on offense in the NFL, meaning the most he will have to do defensively is run the odd block, unless there is a turnover while he is on the field – which won’t happen often. Given the size of some of those NFL linebackers it’s probably best to not expose a rugby league winger to tackling them often.
Reason number three: He’s a touchdown king
Holmes has a stupid knack of crossing the white line when playing in important football games. In last year’s World Cup he scored 11 tries in two finals games alone. Holmes crosses the stripe almost at will in club and state of origin games.
With a strike rate like Val’s, Todd Gurley and Saquon Barkley will be looking over their shoulders in 2019.
Reason number four: The Fifita Brothers
While there is no doubt he will have to put up with some major egos in American football, and he will have to learn a whole new lingo, there is no way possible that he will come across bigger tools than the Fifitas.
It’s a sure bet they won’t follow him to the States either as the family is still paying off a massive Centrelink debt. Sources close to the Sharks have even suggested Andrew Fifita is the main reason Holmes is leaving the Southern Hemisphere.
Reason number five: Luke Lewis
Having retired from rugby league in 2018, Luke Lewis loss will be felt far and wide. Those close to Holmes have been nursing the star through the headache of losing his mentor, and an ornament of the game.
The suggestion by some that Paul Gallen could take over in this role pretty much forced Holmes into purchasing his plane ticket. There is no way he will fail in his gridiron quest with that type of motivation.
Valentine Holmes of the Sharks. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
So there you have it, undeniable evidence that Valentine Holmes will succeed in his ambition and go on and play NFL in 2019.
And even if doesn’t, surely a lighthearted opinion piece about a talented young go-getter is more entertaining than the scandalous rubbish dished up by the papers so far in December. Good luck Val.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If this is meant to be an improvement on the scandalous rubbish dished up in the papers in December, I'd say you've got a bit of work to do.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate I just re-read your comment. Yep agree whole heartedly. I also don't begrudge any of these blokes the chance to play whatever they want for whoever they want.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I don't disagree Dogs, you are retired a long time. So everyone has to look after themselves... including Val.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Gal may be being a little selfish going around again, but he still has the engine and the drive to do it. Remember though he has played for one club his whole career, is a NSW captain and Australian rep player. I think he deserves the chance to decide when he quits. I just hope he doesn't pick up an injury and sit out the season, age has a funny way of telling you it's time to go and last year may have been his golden chance. We will see. BTW, nobody is calling Smith selfish for wanting to play again, I get the Gal hate on here, he is a polarising man. Up up.
Big Daddy
Guest
I think the opposition will be a little bit stronger to score 11 touchdown's. This article also gives the opportunity for the cronulla fans to vent their anger (again). I'm over it but good luck to him.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i reckon hes not taking a large salary and hes good enough to be an important member of the team. if the sharks thought the young guy was better, they would move him on
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Not doubting you like the NFL, but there are a few pretty basic errors in your first few points, or maybe I am reading it wrong. Not many players are solely kick returners and standard fantasy leagues don't score kick return yards. And you don't have to tackle line backers very often given they play defence themselves, but maybe I am missing some sarcasm or something there as well? I see Holmes as a secondary defensive player, not an offensive player. He doesn't have great hands for offense but he has good speed off the mark, direction change etc, which may suit going man on man with 2nd and 3rd recievers. That said you can play defence and be a kick returner, but you need to do more than kick return to make a 53 man roster. Very unlikely Holmes will be Devon Hester. As for your Gallen crack - I will give you this. Gallen thinks Val is selfish, I wonder if Gal thinks it is selfish playing a 19th season and chewing up large chunks of salary cap space when there are a bunch of young players form the successful SG Ball and NYC teams on the brink of having to leave? I don't necessairly, but everyone has to look out for themselves, just like Val is.
Nat
Roar Guru
I agree Gallen is a hypocrite but gee you've taken some cheap shots there. 'Fifita, Gallen and Greenberg are tools and Lewis is a legend' is quite easy mate. I wish Val all the best too but it's a far greater task then you've made out.
peeeko
Roar Guru
So the alleged acts of a handful of players are a black eye on Greenbergs leadership? very very long bow there is not much for wingers to do in NRL? over stating the effect of Luke lewis fafita rumour is totally unfounded scoring a try and a touch down are totally unrelated since when do linebackers run the ball in NFL?
Chris Love
Roar Guru
He was selfish for one reason. He still had a year remaining on his contract and said nothing when a suitable replacement in Ben Barba, who the Sharks would have had a massive crack at signing if they weren’t tied down by his huge salary under the cap was looking to return to the NRL. The Sharks missed the boat on Barba and I’m guessing a large reason Hallen was pissed. It all worked out in the end though as SJ will fill his boots nicely. Cronulla are a more balanced side now.