Valentine Holmes plan to milk his NFL dream is a slap in the face for NRL fans, says Paul Kent
Valentine Holmes’ refusal to answer questions on his return to Australia had nothing to do with dignity or confidentiality. It was for a commercial deal that is a slap in the face for NRL fans, writes PAUL KENT.
Opinion
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Until Monday, Val Holmes had managed his migration to NFL hopeful perfectly. Now, not so much.
Holmes refused to talk at Sydney airport when he flew into Australia on Monday.
He had no obligation to, of course, but with a swell of goodwill behind him and a legitimate interest from NRL fans about his hopes, a few simple answers would not have hurt.
Holmes’s refusal to answer questions had nothing to do with maintaining a dignified silence while he decides his future or with maintaining any confidentiality he has with the NFL team that might be about to sign him.
It was nothing to do with shyness or even a lack of interest in talking about himself, which all would have been acceptable.
It was purely commercial.
While Holmes was mute his manager Chris Orr was pitching a half-hour special to the TV networks to exclusively reveal where Holmes will play.
The figures being spoken about were absurd. Supposedly the silent auction went from $10,000 to $15,000 and kept on climbing.
Who paid? Who was silly enough?
Holmes is one of Australia’s most talented footballers and early in his career there were indications he understood the importance of his “brand”.
But he has no crossover value. Those without an interest in sport, and many whose interests aren’t specifically rugby league, have no real interest in what Holmes is doing other than wishing him well.
So why the need to commercialise that goodwill?
“The Announcement”, as it is being pitched, is not an original idea.
Nine years ago LeBron James took 28 minutes to drag out “The Decision” in an hour-long ESPN special, finally putting everyone out of their misery when he announced he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers (he later returned, then left again) to join the Miami Heat.
James was the NBA’s No.1 player and a crossover superstar. His special averaged nearly 10 million viewers.
Yet even in America, the Land of Ego, it was seen as a bit much.
James wanted to win a championship, he said, and so he was “taking my talent to South Beach”.
James became a punchline. A go-to gag on a slow night for late night comedy writers.
He later admitted the whole idea was a mistake.
Everybody is wishing Holmes the best and everybody hopes he makes it.
He has not particularly caught the imagination of Australians like Jarryd Hayne did when he left for the San Francisco 49ers but there is plenty of goodwill for him.
Why he didn’t merely bring Australia along for the ride and let everybody share in his success in their own small way, instead of trying to squeeze rugby league fans for another dollar, is disappointing.
James, at least, used his car-wreck interview to raise money for charity, with his $US2.5 million fee going to charity and another $US3.5 million in advertising also finding its way to charity.
Holmes is simply chasing another financial windfall. On top of the minimum wage for an NFL player of $US580,000.
For all appearances there seems to be little thanks for the game that helped launch him.
For starters, Holmes needed a healthy dose of goodwill to get released.
He was contracted with Cronulla for this season but went to the Sharks and asked for a release, saying he had a dream.
It took off when Holmes left Australia two years ago to trial for an NFL contract. He and Jason Taumalolo trialled in front of several NFL scouts and got some interest.
It was a slap in the face to the game, though.
It forced NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg to extend a clause in NRL contracts forbidding players from trialling with rival codes to forbidding them trialling for NFL teams.
Holmes wanted another shot this season, though, and went to then Cronulla boss Barry Russell to ask for a release.
It was an enormous gesture from the Sharks. Their salary cap was built around him. He was their best player. Releasing him has made for tough times, now doubly so given their salary cap fines.
Yet they did it as a goodwill gesture.
Holmes is now doubling down on that goodwill by asking for payment simply for the announcement of his decision.
To tell the fans who he walked away from who he will play for now.
Originally published as Valentine Holmes plan to milk his NFL dream is a slap in the face for NRL fans, says Paul Kent
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