Valentine Holmes to wed high school sweetheart Natalia O’Toole

Wedding bells are ringing for newly signed New York Jets squad member Valentine Holmes who has returned to Australia to marry his high school sweetheart in Townsville on the Easter long weekend.

Natalia O'Toole, Valentine Holmes, Jack Bird, Mirae Messia, Mick and Simone Ennis at the Dally M Awards at The Star, Darling Harbour. Picture Gregg Porteous

• Holmes Jets in to the NFL
• Holmes’ new home an NFL struggler

The real reason Valentine Holmes has returned to Australia can now be revealed — the NFL bound superstar is secretly getting married.

Holmes will marry his long-time partner and high school sweetheart Natalia O’Toole on Easter Monday in Townsville.

Natalia is the sister-in-law of Cowboys captain Michael Morgan, who will rush home from the Cowboys’ match against the Warriors on Easter Saturday for the wedding.

Holmes’ agents Gavin and Chris Orr have unsuccessfully been trying to sell the wedding story to various TV networks over the last 48 hours.

Natalia O'Toole and Valentine Holmes at the Dally M Awards. The duo will be married on Easter Monday. Picture Gregg Porteous

The former Cronulla Sharks star returned home from the United States on Monday morning but refused to speak to the media while his agents tried to sell the interview.

It was thought he may have returned to sign a deal with North Queensland, where he has turned his back on a $1 million-a-year deal.

Great night at the Dally Ms last night. Thank you @VanHeusen for making me look sharp 👍🏽 pic.twitter.com/6mQtwHqh0w

— Valentine Holmes (@val_holmes1) September 27, 2018

There were also rumours of a personal issue, which turns out to be the wedding.

Natalia, a personal trainer, is now living in Townsville but spent several weeks in the U.S. where Holmes has emerged from the NFL’s international pathway program to be given a chance as a member of the New York Jets practice squad.

Valentine Holmes is set to marry Natalia O’Toole (backl), the sister of Brianna Morgan (front), the wife of Cowboys star Michael Morgan.

Holmes will be hit with a significant pay cut from his NRL days. Pathway players on NFL practice squads earn about $US129,200 ($A181,500) per season.

Holmes, the former Cronulla, Queensland and Australian representative fullback, and the other Pathway players spent the past three months at Florida’s IMG Academy learning how to train and play American football.

Valentine Holmes has been added to the New York Jets practice squad. (AAP Image/Peter Mitchell) NO ARCHIVING

He has been training as a running back, wide-receiver and punt/kick returner. Holmes participated in a “pro day” in Tampa Bay last week in front of NFL scouts and clocked 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

A number of Holmes teammates from the Cronulla Sharks’ 2016 premiership winning side will attend the wedding. They play on the Thursday night before Easter.

Originally published as Valentine Holmes to wed high school sweetheart Natalia O’Toole