A move to NRL rivals North Queensland is still on the horizon for Valentine Holmes after the Cronulla star admitted he was surprised to hear coach Shane Flanagan say he wanted the speedster to stay at the Sharks.
Holmes will line up on the right wing for Queensland in Wednesday's State of Origin game three but has made no secret his preferred position at Cronulla is fullback.
He is off contract next year but has already been linked to the Cowboys with North Queensland fullback Lachlan Coote expected to be moved on at the end of this season.
But Flanagan was adamant Holmes was going nowhere, telling NRL.com that the flyer would leave the Sharks "over my dead body" - much to the Maroons winger's surprise.
"I didn't think he was that keen on me. He obviously wants me to stay at the club," Holmes said on Thursday.
"There is a lot of talk at the moment. I am just leaving it to management and the club - I have next year then an option for 2020."
Holmes faces competition for fullback at the Sharks from Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan while former No.1 Ben Barba has been linked to a move from the English Super League to The Shire next year.
Holmes said Flanagan's support all but ensured he was not going anywhere for now but admitted it was tempting to move to North Queensland to be closer to his Townsville-based parents.
"Definitely. My family and mum and dad are up there. They are getting old and not working at the moment," Holmes said.
"It would be good to see them now and then, let them get to games more often - they don't really get to see my games.
"I would love to see them more than I am."
But Holmes added: "I am not sure how that is all going to work out.
"I think Benny may have another year there (in England) and Flanno won't release me - I will stick out this contract and see how I go."
Flanagan had publicly thrown his support behind Barba returning from English giants St Helens to Cronulla next year but categorically ruled out releasing Holmes.
"Over my dead body. There's no way in the world I'll be letting him go before the end of his deal," Flanagan told NRL.com.
"He will definitely be here next year and hopefully a lot longer. We're in the process of trying to extend him.
"As soon as he comes out of Origin we'll be having another conversation about it."
