Val Holmes set to join the NFL - Sharks grant release

[Quicksilver]

someone is blowing smoke up his arse

still, his decision to make

Could end up shit creek without an Orr.

 

[Reflector]

That's ok, Gal and the effects of his special medicine will keep the sharks afloat

 

[Life's Good]

Good luck to him. He's achieved some good things in his career:

Won a Premiership
Represented state & country
Scored a tonne of tries despite having Gal as a no7
Remained likable even though he's a Shark

A tremendous athlete with a lot of work in front of him to make the grade but I hope he kills it. And if he ends up back in the NRL, at least he had a go. No shame in that.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

He's also got a very NFL name, I can picture it in my head now:

'Valentine Holmes, the former oss-ie rugby player from down under with some very impressive leg talent right there'

 

[carcharias]

Gallen would have more of a chance in the NFL

 

[VirgilTracy]

The Sharks should have refused to release him and the NRL then not register him for a year after he comes back. If he'd left at the end of a contract that's his choice, but walking away whilst under contract should not be rewarded by having the safety blanket of an automatic NRL gig. Before anyone cries restraint of trade it clearly isn't, as Holmes himself is now effectively saying he's an 'athlete' rather than an NRL player who could equally have chosen to play union, AFL or basketball.

At the moment he's taking virtually no risk because if he fails at NFL he knows some idiot club will offer him a nice rich multi-year contract (in NRL terms).

As for any benefits to the NRL if he makes it in the NFL, they're just as laughably non-existent as when Hayne left. A good player leaving the game at their peak is not a good thing.

 

[Haffa]

Hayne was a 3rd string backup who barely played on the worst team in the league.

He was never close to being a starter within 12 months and probably wouldn't have made the 53 on other teams.

Val is young and has a couple years to learn. That's his biggest advantage. Not sure where he would fit position wise. Maybe slot receiver at best or change of pace RB. It won't be easy and remains to be seen if he has the patience.

He did start on Special teams. I know it's not the same as being an every down back but it's still something. I can see Val having some ST value on a team willing to give him a chance.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

He did start on Special teams. I know it's not the same as being an every down back but it's still something. I can see Val having some ST value on a team willing to give him a chance.

I'm curious about whether what happened with Hayne will leave teams a little weary. That wouldn't be fair to Holmes, but it wouldn't shock me either.

 

[Haffa]

I'm curious about whether what happened with Hayne will leave teams a little weary. That wouldn't be fair to Holmes, but it wouldn't shock me either.

As you know there are some trash franchises and crazy ST coordinators willing to try anything. But I agree there will be some element of caution

 

[JB04]

Do the sharks actually have a back line next year? No Lee, no Ramien, no Leutele, now no Holmes. And add to that Dugan is made of glass. Plus Graham out for a while, Lewis retired and Gallen should have retired. Interesting times ahead for the black, white and blue

 

[Last Week]

They have Dugan and Morris. Could always go for Jarryd and try and reunite the Blues backline from 5 years ago.

 

[grouch]

Sad news

 

[mozza91]

Looking forward to hearing from the NFL brigade about their athletes are incomparable and how Holmes has no chance.

 

[MrBlack]

He's also got a very NFL name, I can picture it in my head now:

'Valentine Holmes, the former oss-ie rugby player from down under with some very impressive leg talent right there'

He will be popular with the Hispanic fans with a name like "Holmes"

 

[Meth]

Good luck to him. It's unfortunate for him that he has to deal with comparisons to Hayne, but hopefully he'll use it as motivation.

 

[Last Week]

Looking forward to hearing from the NFL brigade about their athletes are incomparable and how Holmes has no chance.

It's not that he's not physically capable. It's that he's built for an attrition sport, rather than an explosive one like the NFL. A year of training should get him in shape for that no problem.

Yes, he could learn the plays and intricacies of the sport too.

But the main reason why people doubt he'll make it, just like with Jarryd, is that why would any franchise take a risk on someone who has never had anything to do with the sport? When they could sign one of the hundred free agents who have played it, or draft a college player? All of whom are as much of an athlete as Holmes.

I hope he succeeds.

 

[SamSepi0l]

It's not that he's not physically capable. It's that he's built for an attrition sport, rather than an explosive one like the NFL. A year of training should get him in shape for that no problem.

Yes, he could learn the plays and intricacies of the sport too.

But the main reason why people doubt he'll make it, just like with Jarryd, is that why would any franchise take a risk on someone who has never had anything to do with the sport? When they could sign one of the hundred free agents who have played it, or draft a college player? All of whom are as much of an athlete as Holmes.

I hope he succeeds.

Even a year will be pushing it to learn the intricacies

You summed it up well though.
But people with that kind of attitude don't want to hear it and really have little man syndrome when it comes to anything being compared to RL

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

No. We are not a f**king recruitment arm of American Football.

We want kids wanting to be RL players, play RL for their country.

Their guys who didn't make it then looking our way I agree with.

Yeh, of course. Aftet they are signed up and playing, then the goal is to make them love RL.

But for kids who dont know anything about RL but who know American Football, this is a perfect marketing angle.

Whether this is non-RL states or non-RL countries, riding one the NFLs back would be very valuable.

 

[Bazal]

I think the most shocking thing about all this is that we've had a 100-odd post thread about Valentine Holmes without that dribbling window-licker Manly fan popping in and calling him "Cuckencuck Cuck" or something equally witty

 

[Danish]

It's not that he's not physically capable. It's that he's built for an attrition sport, rather than an explosive one like the NFL. A year of training should get him in shape for that no problem.

Yes, he could learn the plays and intricacies of the sport too.

But the main reason why people doubt he'll make it, just like with Jarryd, is that why would any franchise take a risk on someone who has never had anything to do with the sport? When they could sign one of the hundred free agents who have played it, or draft a college player? All of whom are as much of an athlete as Holmes.

I hope he succeeds.

But a franchise DID take a chance on Hayne, with another making him an offer (Seahawks).

So your point kinda falls apart there.

:edit:

Also, now that I live over here and watch way more college football.... the quality of college ball is absolute trash. To give you an idea, think about how shit U20s would be if we had 50 rosters to fill.

The guys that don’t get drafted are left out for a reason