New York Jets flyer Valentine Holmes pops in at Cronulla as his NFL quest continues
Aspiring NFL player and former Test and Origin star Valentine Holmes has stopped back at Cronulla training during his brief return to Australia.
Little Kody Gallen’s reaction said it all.
“Is Val coming back?,’’ the son of Cronulla co-captain Paul Gallen asked as he watched Sharks training.
Unfortunately for young Kody and Cronulla fans, champion fullback Valentine Holmes wasn’t back at Shark Park to sign a contract prior to June 30.
Instead, Holmes was merely an eager onlooker as he returned to his old hunting ground to see the entire Cronulla squad for the first time since deciding to chase an NFL dream last year.
Invited to training by Cronulla coach John Morris, Holmes visited the Shire during his mandatory five-week break with the New York Jets.
The premiership-winning fullback and prolific tryscorer was met with questions of intrigue and shock by his former teammates as he explained the many hundred of plays and routes he’s endeavouring to master as attempts the transition from rugby league to NFL.
“It’s challenging — but every day is a new day and I’m loving it,’’ Holmes told The Daily Telegraph.
Holmes has just competed the Jets off-season program alongside 90 other potential stars and will return to New York in July to continue his pursuit of a spot on the 53-man roster.
“It’s nice to be back and say g’day to a few of the boys and coaches I didn’t get a chance to say farewell too,’’ Holmes said.
“I still follow how they’re (Cronulla) going each week from the States and having been inside this environment, I know what this team is capable of in the run home to the finals.
“For me, this is merely just a break before we go back to training camp. In saying that, I’ll continue to do some training here and I’ll get up to Townsville next week and do some work up there too.’’
Holmes said he’s also hoping to go to his first NRL game since leaving for the US last November to cheer on the Sharks against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
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