Gallen unloads on Holmes following decision to leave Cronulla

Paul Gallen has gone whack!

STAFF WRITER | November 21, 2018 - 9:46am

Cronulla officially released Valentine Holmes from his contract on Tuesday, as the 23-year-old looks to head overseas and pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.

The decision was met with mixed reviews from those in the rugby league community, although one public figure decided to unload on Holmes' decision, suggesting he should be banned from the NRL for life.

Paul Gallen - who has been teammates with Holmes for the last five seasons - believes the fullback has let his teammates and the club down, and should be punished for his actions.

“It’s been a dream of his which is great. I push guys to pursue their dreams without a doubt, but the fact is he had one year left on his contract and we don’t get this far in this game or any game without your teammates. And Val’s left us, he’s walked out on us, which I find disappointing,” Gallen told Nine News.

“I’ve told him that, I’ve got nothing against him personally obviously I thanked him for everything he’s done at our club, he’s won a premiership with us, he’s been our best player but the way this has happened I’m disappointed in him.”

"The NRL are always on about the integrity of the game, I don't see how this is good for the integrity of the game."

Paul Gallen has fired up over Val's NFL switch. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wO5YyQhNcM

— The NRL Footy Show (@NRLFootyShow) November 20, 2018

Gallen believes Holmes' defection looks bad on the NRL as a league, and says they need to come down hard to teach Holmes a lesson, and set a standard across rugby league going forward.

“The NRL have to step in here and do something about this, the guys that have the ability to go to the NFL are the marquee players, they’re the best players, they’re the players our kids aspire to be, and he’s just broken a contract,” Gallen added.

“Not only does he have a Sharks contract, he has an NRL contract. Now the NRL is always on about the integrity of the game, I don’t see how this is good for the integrity of the game — breaking a contract with one year to go, just walking out on a club and the game.

“Look, I think it’s got to be a minimum two years out of the game and if not out forever.

“If you’re off-contract go for your life, you’re not letting anyone down... He’s let the playing group down, he’s let the club down, and he’s left us in a big hole.”