Valentine Holmes meets with St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan

Up to five clubs are circling Valentine Holmes but his former coach Shane Flanagan has made it clear he wants him at St George Illawarra next year.

Valentine Holmes is a key recruiting target for the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has travelled to Townsville in a bid to secure North Queensland star Valentine Holmes as up to five clubs look to sign him.

It is understood that Flanagan flew to Townsville on Thursday while the rest of the Dragons squad had the day off ahead of their clash against the Bulldogs.

The trip resulted in a multi-hour meeting between Flanagan and Holmes in Townsville ahead of a crucial decision for the Maroons outside back.

Holmes has been granted permission to test the open market test having 12 months left on his rich Cowboys deal.

The Dragons have made it clear they view Holmes as the perfect replacement for Parramatta-bound Zac Lomax with Holmes expected to slot in at centre and be the club’s goal-kicker.

Holmes and Flanagan have history too.

Valentine Holmes (middle) and Shane Flanagan have history together from when both were at the Sharks. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Flanagan coached Holmes in the infancy of his career at the Sharks including their 2016 grand final win. Holmes though left the Sharks mid-contract to try his luck at the NFL at the end of 2018.

He spent one season away from rugby league before signing a six-year contract to join the Cowboys.

That sixth and final year is meant to be next season where Holmes is expected to earn about $1 million.

“I think he would (look good in a Dragons jumper),” Flanagan said of Holmes recently. “Without doubt, he is a quality player. With Zac leaving the club there is a space there for us. I would like to think that players like Val – and not just Val – come into calculation.”

The Dragons are willing to offer the 29-year-old a multi-year contract while the Cowboys’ tight salary cap situation may mean they will be unable to keep Holmes beyond next season.

Valentine Holmes is a key recruiting target for the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

St George Illawarra new recruit Damien Cook has reached out to Holmes in the hope that Holmes will join Cook at the Dragons in 2025.

The Dragons have so far only added Cook to their roster from next season. However they remain in talks with Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh who has fallen out of favour with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

Horsburgh and Holmes played Origin for Queensland last year. While discussions with Horsburgh and Holmes are moving in the right direction, talks with Newcastle prop Daniel Saifiti have stalled.