Valentine Holmes hopes to make an impression Saturday when the Jets play their third preseason game, facing the Saints at MetLife Stadium. But not everyone is rooting for the National Rugby League superstar from Australia to succeed in his quest to play in the National Football League.

It should be an inspirational, go-for-your dreams story, given the fact Holmes left a thriving career in Australia playing for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to chase his NFL dreams. But business is business and Holmes is aware there are fans and club officials Down Under who would rather see him fail and return to the NRL.

“A lot of fans obviously were disappointed that I left,” Holmes told The Post this week. “I mean for any fan I guess to see one of their favorite players or whatever leave, I guess that would be disappointing. I’m sure they don’t wish bad upon me. But they kind of want me to come back.”

Holmes, 24, was one of the NRL’s most prolific scorers, helping his team win the 2016 NRL Premiership.

“There are a lot of people who would like him not to do well and come back,” said Martin Speiser of Sydney, a longtime follower of the NRL. “He’d be snapped up if he came back here.”

Holmes has no plans of failing or returning to Australia anytime soon. He is engrossed in Jets training camp, hoping to make the 53-man roster as a running back. He is still waiting for a signature moment to show he belongs. During his limited reps in camp he has displayed good hands, speed and athletic ability. The technical aspects of American football, like pass routes, pass blocking and reading defenses will take time to learn.

He has tried to make the most of his reps in practice, especially on special teams, where he could find a role. A recent video from Jets camp went viral showing Holmes catching five punted footballs in succession without dropping any of them.

“I’ve gotten to play in two games,” said Holmes, whose contract has a reported annual value of $585,000. “It’s gone pretty well for me so far. But this is a big week. I’m knuckling down in the playbook and focusing on making an impact on special teams. I’ve got to try to find a spot there.”

At the very least, he’ll be part of the Jets’ practice squad, assuring he’ll continue practicing with the team throughout the regular season.

“Obviously, I’ve got that in the back of mind,” Holmes said. “You don’t know what can happen in the future. I’ve played [rugby] and have been lucky enough to have played good enough to where I could get a contract if I wanted to go back. But I’m not looking to go back straight away.”

Holmes is comfortable in his environment. He made several visits to New York long before signing with the Jets. He even competed in the New York City Marathon last year, finishing in 4 ½ hours. His wife, Natalia, has competed in four marathons.

Being around a fellow Aussie, Jets punter Lachlan Edwards, also helps.

“He let me know how it was going to go and he’s been right ever since,” Holmes said. “He said it was going to be quite tough at the start, but you’ll get used to it. He also said all the boys will warm up to you and he was right. Everyone is quite friendly now.”

Holmes is not the first NRL player to attempt an NFL career. Six-foot-8 Jordan Mailata, formerly of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, was drafted in the seventh round in 2018 by the Eagles as an offensive lineman. He was on the practice squad all last year and remains in their camp this year. Jarryd Hayne, who twice won the Dally M Medal as the NRL’s best player, was with the 49ers in 2015. He played in eight games, rushing 17 times for 52 yards. He went back to rugby the next year and later faced sexual assault charges that sacked his rugby career.

Holmes’ old NRL club, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of Sydney, currently sit in the eighth and final playoff spot with three games remaining. The Sharks miss their former leading scorer, but continue to show their support for Holmes.

“It’s all positive,” Holmes said. “They’re all excited. They watched my first game as a team together. Someone had the NFL Game Pass on their phone and they we all around the table watching. That was pretty cool. I got a bit of time in that game and I made a couple of plays. They were all excited for me.”