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.
Rob
Guest
+1 mushie. He had a year off because he wanted out of Sydney. Many kids exceed at school have a gap year, earn some money traveling and then go on to Uni. Val did what Gordon Tallis did but he had a go at something different. Come home Val.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
Then why leave the NRL in the first place?
mushi
Roar Guru
Where did he say give him a trophy? He’s saying he gave it a crack, and risked a bit in the doing so. Tell me do you go and boo during Anzac day? We didn’t win on the shores of Gallipoli either but that loss is an indelible part of our history and ethos, or is that too difficult for you to grasp.
mushi
Roar Guru
But still substantially below what he could earn. By this rationale no one above the poverty line can discuss earnings
KenW
Guest
Any team would want him, but personally I think the million dollar mark is way over the top. He's a good winger, and occasional fullback. No winger is worth close to $1m so let's suggest anyone looking at him is talking fullback. Tedesco is rumoured to be on that money, Holmes at his best - not even considering the year off, body change, etc - was never at that level. He's still young, he could come back and show us something new - but it's more likely that he'll take a season or two to get back to what he was before.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
He didn't go over to the States to "give it a crack", he did it to dodge the last year on his Sharks contract. The Sharks have said previously that Holmes advised them he would just sit the 2019 season out if he wasn't allowed to go to the States. If that had happened I would have put $10k on him being in Townsville in 2020, not in the States "giving it a crack."
Rob
Guest
I agree Nat he has zero credits with the Cowboys club and they owe him nothing as a player. That’s why I would be hesitant about selling the farm for his signature. As a local junior I would love to have him back home but he has to want to be here for more than maximum dollars. Young Tabuai Fidow is an exciting prospect if Holmes doesn’t want to be here.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Karmichael Hunt? Israel Folau? Yeah, good point, made well!!! ROTHFLMFAO I’d also tend that you under estimate the skills required to play a Australia’s pre-eminent football code. I’ve played footy in RL areas and the guys from League, who’d try their hand at footy, always remarked at how hard it was to catch players brought up on AF. Simple you are rewarded for being tackled in RL and penalised in AF. There’s one skill right there. There are plenty others.
Rob
Guest
Jake Clifford can tackle which is something Drinkwater doesn’t have at this stage. I’m not sold on Drinkwater because he shows little desire to catch the football on the full or put his body on the line when needed in defence. Jake Clifford was confused by Green selection policy playing second fiddle to Morgan and Asiata and and shown very little faith from the coach. Clifford’s MOM effort against the Roosters and for Qld and Australia U20’s would suggest he has some skill IMO.
Paulie
Guest
Really, I thought is was pretty obvious it is AFL. No other sport has converted Basket Ballers, Gailic Footy and NRL players to the highest possible league. You obviously have no clue about Prof sport, Running would be harder than most.
Nat
Roar Guru
I wouldn't be too hard on Clifford just yet. He has skills but not playing with confidence. He's stepped into a big shadow and an 'old boys' team who are still looking back at '15 & '17. By the time he's 25yo it'll be his team. JT was still a bench player at 21yo.
Bill
Guest
Hopefully he doesnt judge his own success or failures on your opinion then. Maybe we could all get allocated a sporrs star and be the ones to decide how they live their lives? I wonder if anyone comprehend the thought process that would go into decisions like these? Does everyone assume its done on a whim with little or no fact finding?
jamesb
Roar Guru
Absolutely he needs to bulk up if he is shifted at the front line. He does have a passing game and some vision. Something that Clifford doesn't have at this stage.
Nat
Roar Guru
Respectfully Rob, he could walk into any team. He has no loyalties to anyone especially the Cowboys. Their troubles are not his issue. He's worth what the club will pay.
Nat
Roar Guru
That's not bad. I've seen Drinkwater play 6 for the Falcons. He's got soft hands but his speed creates all sorts of havoc. He would need more weight to play in the front line at NRL level though.
Nat
Roar Guru
I understand that. Let's see if there's any truth to it first. Green is over at Harvard doing a Management/Leadership course so that's enough for a Dobbo story.
Nat
Roar Guru
That’s my understanding as well. Even to make this pathways program is a good effort IMO. The other participants have a fair CV as well from that link.
Andrew
Guest
Yeah the sum of this story; Holmes reportedly to quit NFL and go to the Cowboys based on Green is in New York to meet him His management saying "no decision has been made" If Holmes hasn't even met Green yet, how can they have made an offer and thus how can he have decided to quit. More media dart throwing hoping to hit a bullseye once in a while
Barry_T
Guest
Theory 1/ Val is frustrated at where he is with the NY Jets............most comments suggest a clear return to NRL for him. My theory is 2/ Val is keeping ALL OPTIONS' OPEN and SENDING A CLEAR WARNING to the Jets or any other NFL team - out there 'possibly' interested in him for next season; that he is not gonna wait around in desperation - YOU WANT HIM - COME GET HIM NOW! A "play-call" from the "Le'Veon Bell/Antonio Brown/Jalen Ramsey/Colin Kaepernick - Playbook of pay-negotiations'" - wakey, wakey Australia!
Max power
Guest
Your warped politics has nothing to do with a guy having a tough crack at the nfl