Valentine Holmes heads to New York Jets as part of NFL International Pathway Program

Former Cronulla and Queensland rugby league star Valentine Holmes secures next step in bid for full-time NFL contract.

Former NRL player Valentine Holmes is seen during a “Pro Day” as part of the NFL's International Pathway program. Picture: AAP

Valentine Holmes’ journey in the NFL looks set to continue in New York after the Jets offered him the opportunity to join the club’s practice squad for the 2019 season.

Holmes, who walked out on the final year of his contract with Cronulla to join the NFL’s international pathway program, was given the news by Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan this morning.

As a member of the practice squad, Holmes will continue to train with the Jets but will be ineligible to play in the upcoming NFL season.

Holmes will receive a minimum of $US7,600 per week, meaning the most he can earn is $US129,200 for the year, a massive salary sacrifice on what he could have earned in the NRL at either the Sharks or the North Queensland Cowboys.

The Cowboys were ready to make Holmes one of their highest-paid players while the Sharks had also offered the 23-year-old a multimillion-dollar extension to his deal before he departed the club.

Valentine Holmes speaks to media after arriving home in Sydney this week. Picture: Fatima Kdouh

The Jets released a statement on their website this morning confirming Holmes would be added to their practice squad and had been listed as a running back/wide receiver/kick returner.

“Holmes signed his first rugby contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at 17 and made his professional debut with the club as a winger and fullback at 19,” the statement said.

“He represented Australia in the 2017 Rugby World Cup, scoring five tries (touchdowns) in the quarterfinals and then six tries in the semis.

“Holmes will start out with a couple of Jets connections. For the past three months, he’s been training alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in Florida under the supervision of the NFL’s Will Bryce along with IMG Academy coaches that include former Jets RB/KR Leon Washington and former Jets LBs coach Jim Herrmann.

Valentine Holmes in action for the Sharks last year. Picture: AAP

“And Holmes will be added to the off-season roster that includes a fellow Aussie, fourth-year punter Lachlan Edwards. Other international players who’ve recently made it to the Jets’ regular-season roster include Australian punter Ben Graham from 2005-08 and TE Hayden Smith, an English professional rugby union player, in 2012.”

The Jets were one of four teams in the AFC East given the ability to carry overseas players on their roster through the international pathways program. While Holmes has cleared the first hurdle in pursuit of his NFL dream, he still has a long way to go.

“The four AFC East teams will carry these overseas players on their rosters through the end of training camp,” the Jets said.

“At that time, the players will be eligible for an international player practice squad exemption, granting the teams an 11th practice-squad member who will be ineligible to be activated during the 2019 season.”

The news is a devastating blow to the Cowboys, who were keeping money and a spot in their roster aside for Holmes. They must now go back to the drawing board and may explore the option of signing Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson.

There have also been whispers that Penrith winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been unsettled at the foot of the mountains.