Former rugby league star Valentine Holmes signs with the New York Jets in the NFL

Former rugby league star Valentine Holmes signs with the New York Jets in the NFL

  • Cronulla Sharks star turned his back on rugby league to pursue NFL dream
  • Holmes, 23, follows Jarryd Hayne as NRL stars to make it onto NFL squad
  • Holmes will join the Jets’ practice squad, and will be ineligible to play in 2019

Valentine Holmes has signed with the New York Jets in the NFL.

The former Cronulla Sharks star turned his back on rugby league to pursue a career in the American Football league.

Holmes, 23, follows Jarryd Hayne as an NRL star to make it into on to an NFL squad, after Hayne played a season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015.

Holmes is listed as a running back, wide receiver and kick returner, and will join the Jets’ practice squad.

Valentine Holmes (pictured) has signed with the New York Jets in the NFL

He has been training in Florida as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

Holmes turned his back on a $5million contract with the Sharks to chase his NFL dream. 

Holmes will train as an extra practice squad player with the Jets but will be unable to play regular season games in 2019. 

He joins punter Lachlan Edwards as Australians on the New York roster.

Holmes is a big fan of the Jets’ cross-town rivals, the New York Giants.

‘The Giants are my favourite team and it would be a amazing to play with them, but I would be pleased to play with any team,’ Holmes said last week.

Holmes turned his back on a $5million contract with the Sharks to chase his NFL dream

Holmes turned his back on a $5million contract with the Sharks to chase his NFL dream

Holmes will be hit with a significant pay cut from his NRL days.

Pathway players on NFL practice squads earn about $181,500 per season.

The program is designed to give elite athletes with little American football knowledge a chance to insert themselves with an NFL team and learn the game without the pressure of being cut.  

Pathway players on NFL practice squads earn about $181,500 per season. Pictured: Holmes (in red) training for the transition to the NFL

Pathway players on NFL practice squads earn about $181,500 per season. Pictured: Holmes (in red) training for the transition to the NFL

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