NRL: Kiwis will miss out on Valentine day

Valentine Holmes is rated one of the hottest prospects in the NRL. Photo / Getty Images

The Kiwis have lost their battle with Australia over one of the hottest prospects in the NRL.

Sharks winger Valentine Holmes was included in the Kiwis train-on squad named on Tuesday, after being involved with the Junior Kiwis in 2013.

However, the 19-year-old, who has dual eligibility and turned out for Queensland's under-20s this year, was also named in the Junior Kangaroos on Monday.

At one stage it looked likely he would opt for the Kiwis but on Thursday night Holmes, who has Maori heritage through his New Zealand father but was raised in Townsville, informed the NZRL he would aim for the green and gold.

It's understood Queensland coach Mal Meninga tried to convince him to throw his lot in with them.

It's a considerable blow, as Holmes is rated highly. After a standout Holden Cup season, he came into first grade in round 21 and continued to impress. His Cronulla contract has been extended twice since February to the end of the 2017 season and his presence saw Raiders whiz-kid Anthony Milford shifted to the halves in Queensland's under-20 side.

"We were keen on Valentine and he is obviously a talent," NZRL high performance manager Tony Iro said. "He told us he wanted to be included but needed some time to think things through and we were prepared to give him that.

"There are no hard feelings. We appreciate it would have been a tough decision and we have no problem whatsoever with it."

Holmes could be the tip of the dual eligibility iceberg. There will be increasing numbers of Kiwi-eligible players turning up in Australia due to migration there in the past decade and more players going across the Tasman at a younger age.

In response, the NZRL have plans that will eventually see junior matches between Australian-based Kiwis and domestic teams.

It starts later this month with the New Zealand 18s team playing two games against the New South Wales-based Kiwis in Rotorua. Though Australia like to claim everyone who comes through their systems, the NZRL recognise they need to act, to ensure that cases like Kieran Foran and Benji Marshall don't become historical anomalies.

"We need to provide more pathways and this is the first step," Iro said. "These days, most kids have made their decision by the time they come into the frame for Junior Kiwis or Kangaroos selection. We want to capture their hearts at an earlier age so it becomes normal to be wearing a New Zealand jersey."