Only a week ago it was “plain sailing” according to Matt Moylan’s manager Allan Gainey, yet after months of speculation Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has confirmed the $6 million player swap between Panthers skipper Matt Moylan and Cronulla five-eighth James Maloney.
It’s a deal that certainly has potential long-term benefits for Shane Flanagan’s men. However, by assessing their current situation, it is Penrith who will most immediately benefit.
Ever since reaching the preliminary final in 2014 expectations have been high for the Panthers. However, since then there has been no significant growth or improvement. Rather, despite featuring in back-to-back finals this year for the first time since 2003-04, Anthony Griffin’s men continue to be branded as the side of ‘great potential’ – a tag which does not scream ‘premiership contenders’.
However, the signing of Maloney may be just what the Penrith club need to take the next step towards being truly competitive in the premiership race.
While hooker Peter Wallace boasts 231 games worth of NRL experience, the other members of Penrith’s current spine – Moylan, Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards – have only played a combined 147 games, with Moylan attributing to 89 of these. While there is no doubting Moylan’s natural ability, he lacks the experience and game management of Maloney, who has made three grand final appearances, winning two.
(Image: Matt King/Getty Images)
In addition, this season the Panthers’ hopes of premiership glory were crippled by a painstakingly obvious inability to convert field position into points. Other than Cleary’s spiralling bombs, Griffin’s men typically had no clear direction as to what to do on the last tackle. While this at times suited their off-the-cuff style play, in order to be a genuine premiership threat the Panthers need to discover an element of clinical attack similar to that of sides such as the Melbourne Storm. That does not come naturally; it is the product of years of experience, something that Maloney has in spades.
On the flipside, Penrith’s lack of success in 2017 can also be attributed to their inability to get the fundamentals right, most notably missing the most tackles on average in the competition (36.4) and making the third-most errors (10.9).
Further, Penrith were also the fifth most penalised competition in the competition, conceding on average 6.8 penalties per game. Evidently the acquisition of Maloney may not be so wise in this sense seeing as Maloney finished the season with the most conceded penalties (1.8) and missed tackles (6.0) per game in the competition.
In spite of this, it is Maloney’s proven success that will likely be the most appealing aspect of this deal. As a result, Penrith fans will expect relatively immediate success. Only time will tell whether Maloney’s acquisition is the key ingredient to premiership success for a side that has promised so much yet failed to fulfil their potential.
What do you think, Roarers? Is Maloney the man who will deliver Penrith their first premiership since 2003? Or will the change of environment allow Moylan to rediscover his magic?
Nat
Roar Guru
Sry forgot about Dugan. True about Holmes/Graham but Holmes signed at the start of 2017 as did Graham extend so they were rep quality not Aust reps. Graham would be a decent coin and Flanno did say he could've got more elsewhere. Still, as mentioned, the new cap should cover them easily.
Not so super
Guest
Wade graham , Holmes and Dugan play for Australia
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
I guess that Cleary, while going really well, is younger and will be more open to learning from Maloney than Townsend. Also, I think Maloney's experience will more than anything free Cleary up as to not feel too much pressure, for example if he was partnered by Tyrone May who is of a similar age. Maloney's penalties are definitely a concern but I doubt he'd pass that onto Cleary intentionally haha! Hopefully Cleary doesn't follow Maloney's lead in that sense.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Do you reckon Shane Flanagan would be reluctant to bring him in though? Similar to Ivan Cleary with Nathan?
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yep - it is not a pretty thought haha! I am a firm believer May's spot is not at five-eighth. He is a brilliant player but for me, strikes me as a ball-playing lock. Hopefully he will snag a bench spot next year but I'm guessing he will need to work his way through NSW Cup after his ACL injury and will need to then unseat Sione Katoa.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yeah a fair point - both players arguably needed this move. Maloney seems to fit Penrith's needs perfectly and only time will tell whether he can rediscover his form from 2016. Moylan is likewise but as you said is more of a long-term prospect while Penrith will be expecting rather immediate success from Maloney.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yeah Townsend will definitely need to take control of the team in order for Moylan to be more free to do what he does best. But definitely a move for the future and despite being a Penrith fan myself I would really like to see Moylan kick on and fulfill his potential because if he plays consistently he could really be something special. Unfortunately, injuries and off-field dramas hindered his past couple of seasons.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yeah that's one of the reasons some Cronulla fans are happy to see him go. Probably a welcome change for both players.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Moylan certainly has the natural ability to chime in and spark Cronulla's attack. But if he does so it will mean Townsend will need to shoulder a lot of the organisational responsibilities.
Nat
Roar Guru
Selling all that land has definitely put some coin in the bank for them but TPA's are supposed to be at arms length (eg Parra). However, aside from Gal, Fifita and to a lesser extent (although he deserves top range) Lewis, do they really have any bank busters? $9.4 cap should be pretty comfy for their squad.
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm not quite as sure. Agree Maloney will be a great asset for his maturity/experience but has he improved Townsend's game in the way you think he may improve Cleary? His ill discipline, granted a few were the slow-down penalties so common these days, is a concern and not a habit the Panthers want to pick up.
Andrew
Guest
Could you imagine a defensive line with Cartwright and Maloney standing side by side.... May is the loser in this. I guess this means the long term vision for May is the pack. Maloney is obviously a much better player than May now, but May and Cleary as a combo for five -ten years could have been locked up and developed. If they get a short term premiership win, i guess it is a good deal, but if it costs them a long term potential rep pairing because May leaves, that will be disappointing.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Kyle Flanagan is knocking on the door for Chad’s Jersey as well m... he and Cleary are likely to be the future of the blues.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I think it’s a win for everyone involved. Jimmy was crucial in 2016 for the premiership but had a low key ‘17 due to the contract and CBA negotiations.... his worth more money than what he was on so can’t begrudge but he chose a premiership for money when he went to the sharks. Another year of worrying where he would be next year wouldn’t have done him or Cronulla any good. Penrith need his experience and Jimmy could be the missing piece of the puzzle as he was for the sharks in 2016. Moylan has plenty of undeveloped talent and Flanno gets the best out of every player he has coached... plus Moylan needed a change of scenery, he didn’t want to be at Penrith and now he isn’t. I can’t see a loser in the scenario and both teams will be premiership heavyweights next year.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Maloney has played really well for the Sharks, but was off the boil a bit last season. We were lacking that killer blow in attack. I'm not laying all the blame on him in any sense, we were missing Ennis and Barba as well. However when attacking options were called for I was never that confident something would happen. He does love to give away a penalty or two as well young Jimmy, and we already have whistle machines in Fifita and Graham to cope with. This looks to me like a view to the future. Bringing in Moylan to play in the halves means we may have a combination that is set and able to work together for years to come. It's time now for Townsend to show his worth and take control of the team. I guess the darkie here is that Mitch Pearce comes over and Townsend shifts to the bench or gets released. Will have to wait and see what Mitch does with his future. I know Flanno was quite keen to talk to Cooper though so poor Chad can't be feeling too good in his position right now. Will be an interesting few months ahead for the Sharks faithful, not too sure I want to see Mitch in black white and blue but you never know. Plus if he comes over he might feel right at home as he only has to change one colour.
JVGO
Guest
Maloney in the form he displayed in 2017 is no great loss. He was distracted and a distraction and dissatisfied all year. 2016 he as one of the best players in the game and crucial to the Sharks Premiership.
souvalis
Guest
In ‘16 Sharks scored 108 tries,second to the Raiders 125.. In ‘17 they scored 80,ranking them in the bottom half of sides..Defensively,second only to the Storm. The side clearly needs attacking impact..Dugan for Bird,he plays 20 plus games,it’s an upgrade..frankly,Holmes at fullback cruelled the side..10 linebreaks all season,Dylan Edwards made 9 in far less games...there are few if any more damaging wingers in the game than Holmes.. Moylan is the spark this side was missing in ‘17..he’s more conniving,has better vision and a far wider skill set than Maloney..when he’s happy.. Flanagan has definitely recruited a genuine premiership winning threat with these players..
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Haha very true - that was a seriously good hit. Yeah I saw that, would not believe it, certainly looks the goods!
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
That would certainly be the hope! I think it's amazing how Cleary has grown despite playing with multiple halves partners (Moylan, Cartwright, May most notably) Maloney has an established long and short kicking game which Moylan doesn't have yet so that will definitely ease up Cleary.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yeah exactly, Maloney is a proven winner and in regards to the three year deal - Moylan going highlights that deals often mean nothing today so I'm sure if it's not working Penrith could work out something. Apparently Dylan Edwards is off-contract in 2018 and is a bit agitated Penrith are yet to re-sign him and is listening to other clubs looking to poach him so Penrith need to move fast because he is a gun!