The Dragons’ pursuit of Cowboys superstar Valentine Holmes has reportedly “hit a stumbling block” amid a shock move from the centre’s manager.
North Queensland powerbrokers gave the Maroons gun permission to negotiate with rivals in recent weeks, despite making it clear they’d like to retain his services.
Holmes will enter the final year of his contract next season, meaning he is set to become a free agent come November 1 and could negotiate with clubs for a deal from 2026 and beyond.
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The Dragons emerged as frontrunners for his signature, and according to Fox League’s James Hooper, Shane Flanagan has gone out of his way to confirm the signing.
However, now Holmes is reportedly getting cold feet and is willing to see out his current deal in Townsville.
“Shane Flanagan has flown up there and had a meeting with Val, I think it was all tracking in the right direction but it’s hit a stumbling block,” Hooper said on NRL360 on Monday night.
“I think Val has gone back to the club and said ‘you know what, I’ve spoken to my family and I’m actually thinking I might prefer to see out my contract’.
“He’s got next year to run as well, so the Cowboys have now got to try and manoeuvre the situation to get the best result.”
However, for The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, Holmes’ decision to backflip on a potential move is a “strange” decision.
He pointed to the star centre’s potential to lock down two more seasons on a hefty salary, which could increase amid a reported move to fullback at the Red V.
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“That’s a pretty strange move in that Val will be guaranteed what $800,000 at the Cowboys next year or whatever,” Rothfield said.
“If he goes to St George Illawarra, he gets three years of (his salary) so he’s thinking about his family.”
To further complicate the situation, Holmes and his manager reportedly made a desperate bid for the representative gun to join the Roosters.
However, Tricolours powerbrokers reportedly made it clear they wouldn’t be willing to recruit an outside back of his calibre despite the big-name stars they are losing at the end of 2024.
“There’s another really interesting sideline to this story in that Val Holmes and his manager went banging on the door of the Sydney Roosters not so long ago.
“Knowing Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu were leaving, he’s great mates with Chad Townsend and he would have been very comfortable in that system.
“But the Roosters don’t have space they’ve told me.”
Source Agencies
