Former NRL star Valentine Holmes has no plans of returning to Australia anytime soon.
The New York Jets recruit is coming off an impressive display in his NFL trial debut and has even advised his management against talking to NRL clubs as a back-up option should his American football dream fall short.
“I don’t plan on going home,” Holmes told The Daily Telegraph.
Holmes could return to the NRL tomorrow and command a long-term deal worth almost $1 million a season, a contract the Cowboys have already publicly flagged.
But the 24-year old reportedly focused on his second hit-out in a trial against Atlanta this Friday (9am AEST) and is believed to have told his management that an NRL comeback is "the last thing on his mind."
“I spoke to Val yesterday and he said his debut has only motivated him. He said he doesn’t plan on coming back,” Holmes' manager Chris Orr told The Daily Telegraph.
“Obviously there is no shortage of interest here in Val from NRL clubs, the Cowboys have made it clear they would be interested in talking to him.
“But speaking to Val, he’s told me not to worry about offers from NRL clubs. His single focus is on making it in the NFL.
“Of course, he knows rugby league so well and he could come back to the game in a heartbeat, but he doesn’t plan to fail in the NFL.”
Holmes' chances of making the Jets roster are currently unlikely. The club released their roster depth chart on the club’s official website. For the running back position, six names were listed in order of ranking, with Holmes' name featuring sixth and last.
But both Holmes and his manager remain confident of his chances.
“Historically, Val has never failed,” Orr said.
“He left Townsville as a teenager with a goal to play NRL and he achieved that. He had a goal to win a premiership and he did that. He aspired to play for Queensland and Australia and he ticked those boxes as well.
“He left Townsville as a teenager with a goal to play NRL and he achieved that. He had a goal to win a premiership and he did that. He aspired to play for Queensland and Australia and he ticked those boxes as well.
“The people close to Val know how determined he is. He hates failure and he is backing himself again to stay in the NFL for a while yet.”
Holmes only won a premiership because Chambers didn’t throw that inside pass to Cronk. In terms of costing a team a grand final it outrates Neville Glover. How Chambers can sledge other players when he carries that baggage is beyond me.
But good luck to Holmes anyway.