Reports: Valentine Holmes to leave NFL and sign with Cowboys

21st October, 2019

1896 Reads

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The Roar

21st October, 2019

1896 Reads

Rugby league superstar Valentine Holmes is reportedly set to return to the NRL next season, after his unsuccessful bid to play in the NFL with the New York Jets.

Both Wide World of Sports and News Corp are reporting the 2016 premiership player is set to abandon his American football dream and return to the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys on a deal worth approximately $1 million a season.

Cowboys coach Paul Green is currently in the USA and was reportedly meeting with Holmes in New York in the coming days.

But, speaking to Fox Sports, Holmes’ management disputed the reports, saying “no decision to quit the NFL has been made.”

Holmes made his debut for the Cronulla Sharks in 2014, making 105 appearances and scoring 66 tries in five seasons. He also crossed eight times in just five appearances for Queensland in State of Origin, while also scoring 17 tries in 13 Test matches for Australia.

Hoping to succeed where Jarryd Hayne couldn’t, Holmes left the Sharks last November and was soon signed by the Jets as part of the NFL’s international player pathway program.

The 24-year-old appeared in three of four preseason games for the team as a running back and return specialist. While he only averaged a measly 0.8 yards per rushing attempt, he did catch eight passes for 85 yards.

That wasn’t enough to impress the Jets, however, who assigned him to the practice squad in the final round of roster cuts.

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