The NFL is the new French rugby, if Cronulla’s premiership-winning captain Paul Gallen is to be believed.
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While the days of leaking a trip to Europe in search of the 15-man code’s war chests of cash have waned, NRL players looking to follow Jarryd Hayne’s path to the NFL is an all-time high.
Sharks teammate Valentine Holmes jumped on a flight to LA with Cowboys forward Jason Tamalolo Monday to participate in testing with NFL teams.
While both players are impressive athletes, Gallen suspects there’s more subterfuge involved.
“I was in training today and asked Jack Bird if he’s heard anything or spoken to Val about it. He hadn’t,” Gallen said on Triple M’s The Rush Hour.
“I think it’d be an unreal opportunity, it think it’d be a really good experience for them to see what sort of testing they do.
But…
“I can't help but think this is a bit of a ploy to say 'look these blokes have options'," Gallen said.
"They both have the same manager and they are both off contract next year.”
While the path has been laid by Hayne, Gallen doubts his Cronulla teammate is ready to make the leap just yet.
“Do I think Val can make it? At this stage no. Val’s upper body I don’t think would be big enough to play that game.”
“He’s certainly got big strong legs and is an unbelievable athlete but when I saw what Jarryd Hayne did over there - he went very well obviously – Haynesey is a much bigger man, much more athletic.
"I couldn’t say he’s faster but Jarryd when he went over had a whole lot more going for him and a whole lot more athletic attributes than what Val has at the moment.
“If you give Val another couple of years to grow and develop as a man, then maybe he can go and do it but at this stage I couldn’t see him making it.”
