Premiership-winning teammate Luke Lewis is backing Valentine Holmes to make a successful transition to the NFL as Cronulla fight desperately to retain their superstar fullback.
It's understood Sharks chief executive Barry Russell was attempting to fast track a meeting with Holmes to Tuesday, amid reports the 23-year-old was set to walk away from the final year of his $1million a season deal with the NRL club.
Optimistic: Luke Lewis feels huge NFL fan Valentine Holmes has a chance to make the grade.Credit:NRL Photos
Holmes has just returned from a holiday in the US where he is said to have visited an NFL franchise in the hope of following in the footsteps of Jarryd Hayne, who earned a contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015.
While Holmes is yet to field any formal offers in America, Lewis says if anyone is capable of pulling off such an audacious move, it's the record-setting Kangaroos flyer.
"One thing with Val is he's a very lucky young kid. He's got the world at his feet to be honest," Lewis told the Macquarie Sports Radio breakfast show.
"He loves his NFL and, if an opportunity like that comes up, you'd be mad to turn your back on it.
"I think it's definitely on the cards. I just don't know how he's going to turn his back on nearly $1 million a year.
"But if that's what he wants to do, if anyone can do it, it's definitely Valentine."
Former South Sydney junior Jordan Mailata, drafted this year by the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, also believes Holmes can "definitely" make the transition.
"He's a worthy athlete," Mailata said.
Lewis also suspects Holmes could prove somewhat of a trailblazer if he can successfully carve out an NFL career.
"I think if he does make it we'll see a lot of other guys put their hands up and want to go over as well," he said.
Lewis won the 2016 NRL premiership alongside Holmes.Credit:AAP
"(It's a) perfect opportunity, perfect timing for Valentine to go over and do what he wants to do and, if it doesn't work out, he can come back and still earn the money he wants to earn."
AAP
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