NRL star Valentine Holmes to pursue switch to NFL

  • 20/11/2018
Holmes is one of the NRL's premier backs.
Holmes is one of the NRL's premier backs. Photo credit: Getty

Cronulla will meet Valentine Holmes in the coming days, with the star rugby league fullback reportedly wanting to quit the NRL to try to make the NFL.

Holmes has told Cronulla he hopes to move to the US to follow in the footsteps of Jarryd Hayne and attempt to make it in American football, according to News Corp Australia.

The Sharks fullback has spent time in the United States over the off-season and, according to the report, visited an NFL franchise on his trip.

The 23-year-old still has another year to run on his contract at the Sharks and had been strongly linked to a return home to North Queensland.

"Sharks CEO Barry Russell will meet with Valentine Holmes and his management representatives in the coming days to discuss reports of his potential move to the USA and the NFL," Cronulla said on Monday in a statement.

"The Sharks are not in a position to make any further comment at this time, but will provide more details once they become available."

Holmes has previously expressed his desire to play in the code, even trialling in front of NFL agents at a talent camp with North Queensland forward Jason Taumalolo.

At the time, manager Chris Orr claimed four NFL clubs had expressed an interest in the pair, before Taumalolo re-signed with the Cowboys and Holmes at the Sharks.

Holmes has since gone on to become one of the NRL's most-exciting talents, scoring 22 tries in 26 games last year for Cronulla to be named the club's player of the season.

He has also scored 17 tries in 13 tests for Australia, including a record 11 inside just two games at last year's World Cup.

The Holmes report comes after Hayne's departure from Parramatta mid-contract at the end of 2014 to try his hand at American football.

He signed five months later with the San Fransisco 49ers, and played eight games as a running back and kick returner, before returning to the NRL, via Fiji's rugby sevens team.

Holmes' management has been contacted for comment.         

AAP