Jason Taumalolo, Valentine Holmes hope to live NFL dream

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This was published 7 years ago

Jason Taumalolo, Valentine Holmes hope to live NFL dream

Updated

LOS ANGELES: If Jason Taumalolo has his way he will be living in sunny California and suiting up in the menacing silver and black of the Oakland Raiders while Valentine Holmes is a fan of the New York Giants and wouldn't mind the hustle bustle of life in Manhattan.

The two NRL stars will soon discover if their NFL dreams have a shot at becoming a reality.

Taumalolo and Holmes will be tested for speed, agility, strength and other skills in front of scouts from at least 15 NFL teams at a Los Angeles high school on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

"We've played the highest calibre rugby league in grand finals so for us it is a new challenge to see what we are capable of as athletes," Taumalolo told reporters poolside at a Santa Monica hotel on Friday.

Raiders ready: Jason Taumalolo would love the chance to join the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.

Raiders ready: Jason Taumalolo would love the chance to join the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.Credit: Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals are among the teams to confirm their attendance for the work out.

Ironically, their favourite teams, the Raiders and Giants, are not scheduled to send scouts, but Taumalolo and Holmes would be happy to secure a contract with any of the NFL's 32 franchises.

They are both also open to letting NFL teams decide what position they play.

Taumalolo, 22, is a 191cm, 113kg powerhouse forward for the North Queensland Cowboys and Holmes, 22, is a 186cm, 93kg backline speedster for the premiership-winning Cronulla Sharks.

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Giant plan: Valentine Holmes will also trial for a spot with an NFL franchise, which would send him to the New York Giants if he could have his way.

Giant plan: Valentine Holmes will also trial for a spot with an NFL franchise, which would send him to the New York Giants if he could have his way.Credit: Getty Images

During Jarryd Hayne's headline-making season at the 49ers last year, NFL teams began taking a closer look at the NRL's top prospects and the duo's manager Chris Orr received a surprise call from the Colts.

Saturday's workout has been a year in the making.

Taumalolo and Holmes are contracted to their NRL clubs for 2017 and both said they would honour their deals in Australia.

If offered an NFL contract they would make the move to the US in 2018.

Holmes brushed off criticism from his Cronulla captain Paul Gallen, who said in a radio interview last week he did not think Holmes would make it in the NFL and was only trying to bump up the value of his next NRL contract.

"He's always got comments on anything that happens," Holmes said.

"Some of the boys have been supportive and messaged me."

If their NFL dreams are not realised they will be happy to continue their NRL careers, with both yet to achieve all of their goals in Australia.

Despite Hayne going through a similar scout workout last year, Taumalolo and Holmes have not reached out to Hayne because they "don't know him".

Hayne had difficulty getting used to wearing an NFL helmet and the way it blocked some of his peripheral vision.

Holmes joked he had a way to get used to the helmet.

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"I'll wear it to bed," he said.

AAP

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