Flanagan believes Holmes can return to best at Saints

Shane Flanagan believes Valentine Holmes can return to his best at St George Illawarra, adding the North Queensland star would likely play center if he moved to the Dragons.

Holmes is contracted until the end of next year at the Cowboys, but has been granted permission to test his value on the open market early.

On a deal worth more than $1 million for next season, an early departure would likely require the Cowboys to tip in some part of his salary by 2025.

The Dragons are yet to officially open negotiations with the Queensland State of Origin representative, but he is very much in their sights.

Flanagan has room in the Dragons’ cap to make a move with the club in the market for a back after letting Zac Lomax walk and missing out on Blaize Talagi.

“I think he would (look good in a Dragons jumper),” Flanagan said of Holmes on Thursday.

“Without a doubt he is a quality player. With Zac leaving the club there is a space there for us.

“I would like to think that players like Val – and not just Val – come into calculation.”

Holmes has been below his best at the Cowboys this year, in the fifth season of a six-year contract that was signed on his return from the NFL in 2020.

The 29-year-old’s management recently approached North Queensland asking for an extension, but was told the Cowboys were not in a position to do so yet.

North Queensland have Reuben Cotter, Reece Robson and Griffin Neame coming off contract next year, with the trio likely to be a priority.

The Cowboys maintain there is no bad blood with Holmes and they expect him to return to the table with North Queensland after getting feelers elsewhere.

Flanagan debuted Holmes at Cronulla in 2014 and won a premiere with him two years later, and has no doubt he can still return to his best form.

“I can’t see why not,” Flanagan said.

“He’s a super talent. I had him when he first started at the Sharks, playing fullback on the wing in Jersey Flegg and SG Ball.

“He’s a super talent. Sometimes players run in and out of form, but he hasn’t lost any talent.”

Holmes’s future looms as one of several moving parts for the Dragons.

Jack Bird has been given permission to look elsewhere while stuck out of the NRL team, and the club is closely monitoring Daniel Saifiti’s situation at Newcastle.

But Flanagan insists Holmes would be viewed as a left center if he came to the club and Tyrell Sloan was still his long-term fullback.

Dropped last week to work on defensive deficiencies, Sloan finds himself back in the No.1 jersey this week against Melbourne after his replacement Mat Feagai suffered a concussion.

“I’ve always said (he is the long-term fullback),” Flanagan said.

“He’s an exceptional talent, he’s just got some areas he’s got to work on and work on quickly.

“It was only a week. That wasn’t what we planned. But hopefully it maybe gives him a freshen up, and also a rocket, that he needs to do a better job.”