Prized North Queensland recruit Valentine Holmes has dismissed fears he will suffer the same fate as Jarryd Hayne, vowing to recapture his NRL form after returning from the NFL “stronger and faster”.
Holmes, 24, admitted he was aware of speculation that he may struggle to pick up where he left off in the NRL after spending 2019 pursuing his NFL dream with New York Jets.
But he rejected comparisons with dual Dally M Medallist Hayne who never regained his greatness when he returned to the NRL at 28 after a 2015 NFL stint with San Francisco 49ers.
“He (Hayne) had a bit of age on his side. He was a bit older than me so for him it would have been a bit harder to come back as good as he was,” Holmes said.
“But I kept in good shape over there. I feel a bit stronger, bit faster, bit better agility-wise.
“My stamina is something I will have to focus on and my ball skills.
“I haven’t played footy in a while but I am sure I will get it back.”
North Queensland coach Paul Green was convinced the NFL experience would only make Holmes a better NRL player.
“I think given his age and experience he has the potential to come back a better player,” he said.
“We are over the moon about signing him. A guy like Valentine with his skill set and athletic ability can really add an extra dimension to our attack.”
Holmes said he would stay away from social media critics and focus on repaying the faith shown by the Cowboys who waited almost a year to finally sign the ex-Cronulla flyer on a lucrative six-year deal.
“I don’t really feel pressure. I always play every game like it was my last – that is what my dad always told me,” he said.
“l will keep that going when I am here. I am here to win. That is what my mindset is going to be.”
North Queensland officially unveiled their prized signing at a Townsville press conference on Monday after keeping in touch with Holmes when the Queensland winger left in late 2018 for the NFL.
The Cowboys set aside salary cap space as they sweated on his return before signing Holmes barely 24 hours after his NFL release, on a deal reportedly worth almost $1 million a season from 2020.
“To show that faith in me is awesome and I will try to show it back when I play,” Townsville-born Holmes said.
“It was a kind of an easy decision (signing with Cowboys). I have family here, have friends here from school and I have always loved the Cowboys since I was growing up – it’s good to be back home.”
Holmes is expected to spark a Cowboys side that has missed the finals the past two seasons.
But asked if Holmes’ signing made North Queensland 2020 title contenders, Green said: “I am not going to make any early crows like that, that’s ridiculous – we have a lot of work to do.”
Holmes is tipped to don North Queensland’s No.1 jersey but Green baulked when asked where he would play his star signing.
“The demands of the game have probably changed a little bit since last time he pulled the boots on,” he said.
“We will see where he is at when he gets on the training paddock.”
Rob
Guest
Brett Morris was very good and interestingly the 3 clubs he has played for made Grand Finals. In 13 years he has played 16 finals games (9wins) with 2 Premiership rings. In 16 years JT played 3 GF’s, 22 finals games (12 wins) with 2 premiership rings. They have an almost identical career win percentage of 55%. Maybe the Cowboys have paid overs before? Holmes has scored the exact same amount of tries at fullback in 8 fewer games than Brett? Holmes career winning percentage is 60%? When he played fullback the Sharks they won almost 70% of games.
KenW
Guest
What’s a genuine tackle busting, quick, try scoring fullback worth? Very valuable. But there's an assumption there that Holmes is equal to Tedesco, Inglis and Slater. He was a good winger, who was in the process of transitioning to fullback (and doing a decent job of it). He might find his feet after a year out, improve out of sight and make the Cowboys look like they nabbed a bargain. But he also might not.
KenW
Guest
Numbers in the media are always rubbery but yeah, if you believe the reports, he's getting the same as Teddy. Brett Morris scored tries at a much better rate than Val Holmes at the same point in his career. He was not one of the best paid players in the game at the time because paying that value for wingers ruins your squad balance. At fullback, Holmes was 'starting to find his feet' as you say. I don't see how that makes him comparable to Tedesco, Inglis or Slater who were demonstrated elite fullbacks with greater skillsets. In no way am I saying he's hopeless. He may evolve into an elite fullback but it just seems a massive punt.
Rob
Guest
There seems to be a lot of people questioning the worth of Holmes and his ability. Fullbacks that score tries can win Premierships. Anthony Minichiello 212 games 98 tries. When he played more than 20 games and scored more than 10 tries a season the Roosters played in a GF. 2009 Billy Slater (26 games 18 tries) Jaryd Hayne (18 games 9 tries) 2011 Brett Stuart (20 games 15 tries) Slater (24 games 12 tries) 2012 Slater (21 games 16 tries) Barba (27 games 22 tries) 2012 Inglis (22 games 12 tries) Preliminary final 2013 Inglis (20 games 14 tries) Preliminary final. 2014 Inglis (24 games 13 tries) Premiers. 2016 Barba (27 games 16 tries) Jack Whighton (26 games 8 tries)3rd. 2018 Tedesco (25 games 9 tries) Slater (20games 7 tries), Holmes (18 games 13 tries)4th. 2019 Tedesco (24 games 18 tries)Premiers. What's a genuine tackle busting, quick, try scoring fullback worth?
Rob
Guest
Is that the actual price? What’s Tedesco, Inglis or Slater worth? He was scoring at the same rate or better than these blokes after 100 games. Add to his ability as a goal kicker capable of 85% and you’re looking at Thurston at his best type numbers.
KenW
Guest
I'm still having problems understanding a $6m, 6 year contract for a fullback who was (as you say) starting to find his feet before taking a year off. Holmes would be a welcome sight in any squad but geez that's a lot of money to tie up in a rep winger who 'might' make a good fullback.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Plus if they also get Latrell...
Flexis
Roar Rookie
And I certainly hope he does. But if he doesn’t the predicament of having a world class winger out of position (and on so much dosh) will be keeping Green up at night. Especially if Drinkwater continues to develop.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Green is a garbage coach. He won't know what to do with holmes
Pete
Guest
Good move from the Cowboys but I don't think it'll matter who they sign until Green is gone. Val has a lot of developing to do in the fullback role and I'm pretty certain Green doesn't have what it takes to do that. All players have gone backwards under him the last few years and there's nothing to suggest that will change anytime soon.
TJ
Guest
He started off horribly at fullback but towards the back end of 2018 he was very impressive. Which a lot of people seem to forget. He was scoring tries for fun and if he can get back into that form he will be worth every penny.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Could get interesting. He’s yet to impress at fullback, and Drinkwater is no slouch. I’m usually not a fan of the price for position theory, but it will be exceptionally hard to justify putting Holmes in his best position if playing fullback doesn’t go to plan. Wingers rarely win you matches, marquee or not.
Rob
Guest
IMO I think he will come back a better player. He really started to find his feet at fullback before he left and I think he's more than capable of recapturing that form pretty quickly. If Morgan can get fit and back to his best, they could be one of the most dangerous duos in the competition.
kk
Roar Pro
Valentine's 2018 displays at full back were good but did not reach the heights he enjoyed as one of our code's best wingers, if not the best. I wish him well.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It could have worked out well for the Sharks if Shaun Johnson had fired up. He's played in the finals with two different clubs over the last two seasons but may as well stayed at home in both games. Johnson is another example of the folly that players only get better over time. Plenty don't.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Comparison to one persons experience is very close minded. Players take an injury forced year off all the time. I’d assume he will get plenty of time in the trials and have the cobwebs out by round 1.