Surest sign yet Valentine isn’t coming home from NFL journey

Any hopes of rugby league fans seeing superstar Valentine Holmes returning to the NRL in coming years seems shot, with a recent move indicating he doesn’t plan on leaving the Big Apple anytime soon.

Natalia Holmes is heading to New York. Photo: Instagram / @nataliaaholmes

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Natalia Holmes will fly to the Big Apple in the next 24 hours — in search of a place that her and husband Valentine can call home.

In an indication that Valentine believes he will make it in the NFL with the New York Jets, his partner has packed her bags for the US.

The Townsville-based gym owner has even tucked key supplies into her luggage, including must-have snacks for any Aussie ex-pat: Arnott’s Shapes, Tim Tams and chocolate-coated Monte biscuits.

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Natalia Holmes is heading to New York. Photo: Instagram / @nataliaaholmes

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Valentine is sharing an apartment in Florham Park, 48km west of New York City, with Jets left tackle Calvin Anderson.

“He doesn’t think he’ll be coming back soon, so Natalia is heading over to look at properties to stay,’’ Holmes’s agent Gavin Orr said.

“They’re (Jets) liking what they’re seeing from Val, but we all know it’s a work in progress.’’

That progression took a slight delay on Friday when Valentine was made to wait for his opportunity during the Jets’ 22-10 defeat of the Atlanta Falcons in their second game of the NFL pre-season.

Valentine Holmes doesn’t look likely to head back to rugby league. Picture: Getty Images

Jets head coach Adam Gase opted to hand back-up running back Ty Montgomery some more game time, as well as Bilal Powell.

In his first official pre-season match, Holmes came in with 2min 39sec left in the game and had to settle for just three carries for three yards. He was unable to get a chance at kick or punt returner.

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The former Cronulla Sharks star has a further shot to impress when the Jets face the New Orleans Saints on August 25.

Holmes is one of 92 players with the New York franchise striving to receive a full-time playing contract on the Jets’ 53-man NFL rosters, which will be selected on September 1.

The North Queensland Cowboys have purposely kept space in their 2020 salary cap for Holmes, should he fall short of his NFL dream.

Originally published as Surest sign yet Valentine isn’t coming home from NFL journey