REPORTS: North Queensland chasing hometown Holmes

The Cowboys have targeted Sharks star Valentine Holmes as their long-term fullback, who has expressed a desire to play at the No.1 permanently.

The 22-year old is contracted at Cronulla until the end of the 2019 season, and has an option to remain there in 2020, where he has largely been used as a winger.

“Val (Holmes) has interest,” Holmes' manager Gavin Orr told The Courier Mail.

“The Sharks are looking to extend his current contract but if we don’t do that, Val will go on to the open market come the 1st of November.

“The Cowboys are most definitely an option. He is from Townsville, his family is from there and his partner has family in the region.

“If Val left, that would be the obvious club, but we’ll see what takes place with the Sharks.

“He would love to play fullback on a regular basis and that will be a consideration when Val weighs up his future.”

Holmes is set to play his third game for the Maroons as a left wing in Game 1 of the State of Origin Series at the MCG.

He has played as the No. 1 at times this season and aspires to take over Queensland's fullback position from the retiring Billy Slater.

“I want to master that at club level first, it’s definitely the position I want to play,” Holmes told The Courier Mail.

“I’m still playing a bit of fullback at the Sharks. I still get a bit of a run there. Flanno (coach Shane Flanagan) lets me roam around and get some time there, so I’m happy.

“I’m contracted this year, next year and an option for 2020 (at Cronulla).

“There has been a lot of talk about player movement, not just with myself.

“I don’t know where it’s heading. At the moment I’m with the Sharks.”