Cronulla have granted Valentine Holmes an immediate release from the final year of his contract to pursue a career in the NFL.
The Sharks released a statement on Tuesday afternoon confirming Holmes had requested a release.
The club had worked to re-sign Holmes’ to a five-year contract extension with Cronulla, a deal which would have made Holmes the highest paid player in the Sharks’ history.
The club said in the statement they had “no option” but to release their star fullback.
If Holmes is unsuccessful in the NFL and wants to return to the NRL in 2019 he can only sign with Cronulla under the terms of the release. Holmes will not be eligible to play for another NRL club next season.
Holmes thanked the club and Sharks fans for their support over the last five years and their understanding as he chased his NFL dream.
“I will be forever grateful to the Cronulla Sharks Football Club and the Sharks fans for the past five years of support. It was a special moment we all shared winning the club’s first ever NRL premiership,” he said.
“I understand this decision may come as a shock to many but I personally believe it’s the right time for me to challenge myself and pursue this NFL opportunity.
“Hopefully the fans can understand and support me as they have done throughout my career.”
Holmes also posted on social media to confirm the news.
Sharks football club CEO Barry Russell said he was disappointed by Holmes’ decision but acknowledged his contribution to Cronulla and the NRL.
“He is loved by our club, corporate partners, members and fans,” Russell said.
“We are incredibly saddened to see him leave our club and exit the game of rugby league. However, we wish him all the best in pursuing his NFL career and hope one day he may again wear the Sharks colours.”
Cronulla had planned to meet with Holmes’ management on Wednesday but had the meeting brought forward to Tuesday.
The 23-year-old was expected to play the 2019 season with Cronulla, the last year of his contract with the Sharks, before moving back home to Townsville to join North Queensland.
Holmes told the Leader at the Sharks’ Monty Porter Medal presentation night in October he was yet to make a decision on his playing future and likely wouldn’t until the new year.
Holmes completed what he described as his best ever NRL season for Cronulla by scooping the Sharks’ annual awards night.
Holmes was named the Monty Porter Medal winner as Cronulla’s player of the year after a blistering campaign which saw him break the club record for most tries in a season.
He was also named the club’s player’s player and Cronulla’s member’s player of the season.
Holmes has just returned from an overseas holiday in the United States and Cuba.
It has been reported that Holmes recently underwent speed and strength testing at Nike’s global headquarter in Oregon in the US.
Holmes is already known in the US after he and Jason Taumalolo trialled for scouts in Los Angeles two years ago.
At the time, his manager Chris Orr claimed four NFL clubs had expressed an interest in the pair, before Taumalolo re-signed with the Cowboys and Holmes with the Sharks.
The loss of Holmes could see coach Shane Flanagan switch Matt Moylan to fullback for 2019. With Cronulla light on depth in the outside backs, it would be likely Josh Dugan would remain in the centres.
A potential Moylan shift could open the door for Kyle Flanagan, son of Shane, an opportunity in the NRL team at five-eighth alongside 2016 premiership-winning halfback Chad Townsend.
Cronulla are also understood to already be several hundreds of thousands under their salary cap for next season. Holmes’ departure could free up significant funds for the Sharks to bolster their squad.
