Cowboys weigh up Latrell Mitchell, Valentine Holmes contract offers
Valentine Holmes' manager is reportedly set to hand him a "reality check" - and it could sink Latrell Mitchell's interest in playing for the Cowboys.
North Queensland have salary cap space to sign one superstar player on roughly $1 million per season. They can't afford both Holmes and Mitchell.
Holmes, The Mole reported on Wide World of Sports last week, is the Cowboys' preferred choice. The NFL hopeful is a Townsville product who would be returning home and North Queensland attempted to sign him before he went to America.
Nine's Danny Weidler wrote in his Sun Herald column that Holmes' manager, Chris Orr, will soon meet with his client in New York and make clear that he is giving up big money in the NRL while continuing his NFL dream.
Under his NFL deal as a practice squad member of the New York Jets, Holmes is not paid between December and May, according to Weidler.
Latrell Mitchell (L) playing for the Kangaroos at the end of this season. Getty
The Cowboys have set aside seven figures per season for Holmes, but they are taking the alternative option of Mitchell seriously in the meantime.
Weidler wrote that Mitchell's interest in playing for North Queensland had flattered the club and that he would be met at the airport by Cowboys icon Johnathan Thurston when he visited Townsville next week.
The Cowboys will assess Mitchell's headspace, amid a startling fallout with the Roosters, and the Test centre will then spend some time in Far North Queensland pondering his future. Mitchell apparently likes Townsville because the slower pace of life, compared to Sydney, reminds him of his hometown Taree.
Weidler reported that Mitchell would also meet with the Wests Tigers shortly and he offered "a four-year, back-ended deal – $800,000 for 2020, $900,000 for 2021, $1 million for 2022 and $1.1 million for 2023".
Wests Tigers reportedly want Mitchell to play fullback, his preferred position but one in which he would need to develop his game.
It is unclear where the Cowboys would want Mitchell to play. Scott Drinkwater is their current fullback and is contracted for the next two seasons.
Latrell Mitchell with the NRL premiership trophy, for the second year in a row. Getty
Mitchell, 22, won a second consecutive premiership with the Roosters this season and was also named Dally M Centre of the Year. He had an $800,000 per season contract offer withdrawn by his club, where he remains contracted for next year.
Yet the Roosters are prepared to let Mitchell walk, apparently miffed by his interest in exploring options with rival clubs.
The star had a turbulent year despite his success, going through a messy split with his manager and battling racist online attacks from trolls. He was also dropped from the NSW State of Origin team and reportedly held a grudge against coach Brad Fittler.
