As a raging Paul Gallen called for Valentine Holmes and other NRL players who break contracts to cop life bans, Penrith Panthers boss Phil Gould calmly predicted the rugby league production line will swiftly replace the departing Cronulla star.
Holmes’ shock decision to turn down a five-year, $5 million contract extension from the Sharks to chase his NFL dream rocked the NRL community on Tuesday.
The reaction ranged from admiration of Holmes’ bold move to back himself to Gallen’s furious spray in which he declared his team-mate has let the club down and should be banned from the NRL for at least two years, ‘if not forever’.
But Gould, who trades opinions with fans on Twitter on a nightly basis, called for calm in a response to one punter who also suggested harsh penalties for contracted players who jump ship.
MORE: Valentine Holmes NFL move: Cronulla Sharks star unsure what position he’ll play in new code | Jarryd Hayne accused of biting alleged sexual assault victim |
The sporting world has changed forever. Money, media, managers. I could write a book on it. Which, of course, I will never do. Good luck to Valentine. I hope he finds what he’s looking for. There will be another kid along very soon, more than ready to take his place. https://t.co/kXFgi3CX5h
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) November 20, 2018
Holmes joins an infamous list of NRL superstars – headlined by Sonny Bill Williams who skipped out on Canterbury to join French rugby mid-season in 2008 - to abandon their club before the end of their contract.
Jarryd Hayne left the Eels in 2014 and defied the critics by making the San Francisco 49ers 53-man squad for the 2015 NFL season, playing eight games before retiring abruptly.
Holmes will undergo a three-month trial in the NFL’s International Pathway Program starting in January but insists his code switch won’t be short-lived.
The Townsville product is leaving rugby league at the peak of his powers as the incumbent Queensland and Kangaroos winger.
He made his first-grade debut in Round 21 of the 2014 season against Parramatta and was a key member of the Sharks’ maiden NRL premiership in 2016.
Holmes scored 66 tries in 105 appearances for The Shire club.
