The battle for Valentine Holmes' signature continues to be a hot contest, with North Queensland looming as a real option for the Origin winger.
Holmes has one year remaining on his current deal, but the Townsville-born flyer has ambitions to return home at some stage in his career, and it could be as early as 2020.
While speaking to the media on Friday ahead of their clash with the Cowboys on Saturday night, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan spoke about Holmes' improvement since the Origin period, and just how he's turned his season around.
“I think Origin probably was the turning point for him,” Flanagan said.
“I think it was a bit questionable about whether he was going to get in or not — he was doubting himself.
“He was trying to work really hard to get his game back. He is just really confident at the moment. That is just the type of player he is.
"I think that was the turning point, giving him that belief in himself that he is a superstar.”
Holmes is closing in on the Sharks' record for most tries in a season as he currently sits on 19, which is also two more than any other player in the competition.
However, in potentially the first show of doubt in Flanagan and the Sharks' mind, the premiership coach began a sentence about Holmes' future Sharks legacy with an 'if', and not 'when'.
“If he is here for a long period of time he will be the highest tryscorer for the club by a long way," Flanagan said.
There might not be much in that at all, but with the Cowboys up to their necks in the race for Holmes' signature, it could just signify which way the 23-year-old is leaning.
