NRL star Valentine Holmes acquired by NFL’s New York Jets

North Queensland’s flickering hopes of signing Valentine Holmes if his NFL dream fell over have been extinguished after the ex-NRL star was this morning acquired by the last team standing in the US.

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North Queensland’s flickering hopes of signing Valentine Holmes if his NFL dream fell over have been extinguished after the ex-NRL star was this morning acquired by the last team standing in the US.

Holmes was signed by the New York Jets on Tuesday morning (Sydney time) after last week taking part in an NFL conbine as part of the sport’s international pathways program.

We've added Valentine Holmes as part of the @NFL's International Player Pathway program.

📰 https://t.co/CQ0hVdx9Em pic.twitter.com/6kCr5KtB2L

— #TakeFlight (@nyjets) April 8, 2019

The former NRL star, who walked away from a $A5 million contract with Cronulla, will share a locker room with star running back Le’Veon Bell and quarterback Sam Darnold at the New Jersey-based Jets.

Holmes has been signed after winning a premiership with the Sharks in 2016. He also played 13 matches for Australia, scoring tries and eight tries for Queensland in five State-of-Origin games for Queensland.

Holmes will also continue a strong Australian tradition at the team. The Jets’ punter is Mornington Peninsula-raised Lachlan Edwards. Geelong AFL great turned punter, Ben Graham, was a member of the Jets from 2005 to 2008 while another Victorian, Tom Hackett, a two-time Ray Guy Award winner, trialled with the team in 2016.

Holmes is a big fan of the Jets’ cross-town rivals, the New York Giants. “The Giants are my favourite team and it would be a amazing to play with them, but I would be pleased to play with any team,” Holmes told AAP last week.

NRL star Valentine Holmes arrives in Sydney following his stint in the USA trying his luck to get a start in the NFL. Picture: Fatima Kdouh

The NFL announced on Monday that Holmes and other elite athletes in the International Pathway Program have been allocated to teams in the AFC East division - the Jets, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.

British rugby union speedster Christian Wade will join the Bills. Brazilian judo champion Durval Neto was picked up by the Miami Dolphins and German tight end Jakob Johnson will go with the Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Valentine Holmes in action for Australia. Picture: AAP Image/David Rowland

Pathway players become members of team’s practice squads and will not be eligible to play games but there is an outside chance they could be added to the 53-man playing roster.

The program is designed to give elite athletes with little American football knowledge a chance to insert themselves with an NFL team and learn the game without the pressure of being cut.

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.

Former NRL star Valentine Holmes at the NFL tryouts with other combine hopefuls.

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.

Wade was part of the British Lions squad that toured Australia in 2013. A year ago South Sydney junior Jordan Mailata, a Pathway graduate, was taken in the seventh round of the NFL Draft by Philadelphia Eagles.

NFL Pro Day 40 Yard Dash @val_holmes1 💪🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/i9cKszMJyC

— NFLAustralia (@NFLAustralia) April 2, 2019

Holmes, 23, said last week he did not believe he was eligible for the draft because of his age.

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.

It’s believed the former NRL superstar impressed scouts during his testing last week at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice facility in Florida.

He also delivered in the three-cone shuttle drill, finishing equal second. But dropped down the order in the 102kg bench press. Holmes was tied for 14th with 20 repetitions. In first place was Alex Barnes with 34 reps.

The NFL introduced its International Pathway Program in 2017 to give athletes from outside of the United States a chance to earn a spot on an NFL roster.

Nine athletes, including Holmes, took part in 2019.

Originally published as NRL star Valentine Holmes acquired by NFL’s New York Jets