Valentine Holmes is given permission to speak to rivals associated with the Dragons and North Queensland Cowboys squad

The Dragons are about to strike: The Cowboys have given representative outside back Valentine Holmes permission to test the open market.

While the Cowboys have reportedly told Holmes that they want to keep him at the club, his manager confirmed toNews Corp that the 29-year-old can now speak to opposing teams.

This comes as Holmes prepares for the final year of his current contract with North Queensland.

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News Corp reports that the Dragons have emerged as favourites for Holmes' signature, pointing out that he would be a perfect replacement for the outgoing Zac Lomax.

He would also be another option should the Red V fail to land up-and-coming rookie Blaize Talagi from Parramatta, but the Dragons hope to sign both players to bolster their fullback ranks.

“Great news coming from the north,” Fox League’s Corey Parker said Sunday.

“When you have players like Jaxon Purdue and (Zac) Laybutt who have made tremendous progress, and someone like (Jason) Taumalolo with a million dollars and Val with the same amount, you think they would try to clean up their roster.”

Michael Ennis added: “There is no doubt that salary cap pressure must be a major factor in this decision.”

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Holmes' agent Chris Orr was quoted as saying News Corp that they are “trying to sit down with the Cowboys early and extend his contract.”

“Early approval enables us to get to the negotiating table sooner,” he added.

“The Cowboys have indicated that they want Val to stay.”

With that in mind, this is hardly a guarantee that Holmes' future lies elsewhere, but it does at least provide a team like the Dragons with an opportunity to showcase their skills to the Maroons star.

Holmes is not the only Cowboy whose future could be uncertain beyond this year. Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson's contracts also expire at the end of the 2025 season.

Otherwise, Heilum Luki, Coen Hess, Jason Taumalolo, Jeremiah Nanai, Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden are still under contract with North Queensland well beyond this date.