With James Maloney on the verge of signing with Penrith and Matt Moylan heading the other way to Cronulla, I’m taking a look at how thing might transpire for both players and clubs.
1. Both players could benefit from a change
I like this rare player swap because, firstly, it rarely happens in the NRL and, secondly, I believe both players could do with a change of scenery.
Both Maloney and Moylan had hugely underwhelming seasons in 2016 for vastly different reasons. Maloney was a shadow of the player he was in 2016, giving away by far the most penalties in the NRL as well as missing crucial tackles and having a wildly inconsistent short kicking game. I think there is probably some truth to the fact he wasn’t happy with his $500,000 a year deal as he saw a bevy of playmakers earn big money deals.
Moylan was bumped from fullback to number six as Dylan Edwards emerged as the Panthers’ first-choice fullback. Moylan wanted the move to six by all accounts but only showed glimpses of his best form and ended up sitting out the end of the season.
Sometimes players need a change of environment to get them out of their comfort zone and, while Maloney has had plenty of that, Moylan looks a player that desperately needs to get out of Penrith given his relationship with the coach and the fact he never looked comfortable with the captaincy.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
2. Penrith need a winner and Maloney is that player
Penrith are a team that need big-game players who have won premierships and played in Origins. James Maloney won premierships in his first season at the Roosters and Sharks and made the grand final at the Warriors, who have not made the finals in the ensuing six seasons.
While he is at the back end of his career, you can’t ignore the impact he had at those clubs – and the Sharks and Warriors are two clubs that had experienced a distinct lack of success before he arrived there.
For me, Penrith are missing someone that can bring their talented rabble together. Maloney is 31 and coming off a poor season; however, when I look at Penrith the past two seasons I see a side that had the talent to win a title but not the mentality or the know-how. Last season’s game plan looked very basic, relying heavily on Nathan Cleary and unstructured offloads. They were pedestrian inside their opponents’ 20-metre zone for a side with a lot of weapons. I think Maloney will add some much-needed experience to this Panthers’ side as well as some structure and leadership to their roster.
3. Moylan could thrive without the captaincy and under Flanagan
For mine, Moylan never looked comfortable nor happy with the weight of the captaincy on him. It seemed like a bizarre choice at the time from Anthony Griffin, and Moylan eventually started to rebel against it. Perhaps the Panthers thought it would entice Moylan to sign long term, and that’s exactly what transpired.
However, as we can see now, it may have backfired. By all reports Moylan is a very laid-back lad who isn’t the hardest trainer or known for rallying the troops behind the scenes. At Cronulla he will simply be allowed to let his footy do the talking, with a bevy of senior players and an experienced roster that will set standards.
Coach Shane Flanagan seems to be very much a player’s coach in terms of how popular he is and how he gets the best out of some rough diamonds. Flanagan has been able to get players like Andrew Fifita and Ben Barba playing great football on the field. Moylan, much like Jarryd Hayne, is a bit of a free spirit, and while he is a risk, if the coach can coax the best out of him, the results could be spectacular.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
4. Is Moylan the next Darren Lockyer or Todd Carney in the Shire?
While I’m not the biggest fan of Anthony Griffin as a coach, Matt Moylan will have nowhere to hide next season in terms of excuses. While Moylan is relatively young at 26, he should now be in the prime of his career and needs to get himself motivated and his head focused if he is to reach his potential.
Some saw his move to five-eighth as the second coming of Darren Lockyer, but he could easily become the next Todd Carney in the Shire if he doesn’t rise up and go all-in with his football.
I think it’s a concern that he missed finals games at the end of the season despite the fact the rumour mill was strong that physically he was fit to play. Like Kieran Foran, once you start missing games because of problems off the field, you’re damaged goods in some respects.
The Shire has plenty of distractions and, with a few fellow rogues in that squad, Shane Flanagan could have his hands full to keep that squad focused should they get off to a poor start. There is no doubting Moylan’s talent though, and if he puts it all together, he could be in the top one or two five-eighths in the game.
5. Which team finishes higher next season?
The guys who set the markets clearly think the Panthers are the better side next season given they are $9 in the premiership market and the Sharks are $17. I had both clubs as teams that should make the top eight but were a step behind premiership heavyweights like the Roosters, Storm and Cowboys. Both clubs will make this move in anticipation that it can elevate them into that top bracket.
The Panthers are out of excuses now as a young side on the rise, and Anthony Griffin for me is the man in the hot seat. He really needs to deliver next season, and by deliver I mean at least make a preliminary final, bar significant injuries.
The Sharks have lost Jack Bird and will need Moylan to get somewhere near his best, as Chad Townsend is a functional halfback rather than someone who is going to scare teams. If forced to make a call this early, I believe Penrith have a better roster than the Sharks for next year. However, I trust the Shark’s coach more than Penrith’s coach when the whips are cracking in the finals.
Chook
Guest
Have you forgotten about Dugan? With the dough they have signed him for he will be fullback
Chook
Guest
I don't know what the sharks recruitment were thinking when they signed Dugan.
Chook
Guest
Your only as strong as your weakest link.....Any prizes for guessing who?
John
Guest
I think Moylan has been shielded by Gould so a move to the shire may open the media floodgates so to speak.
Albo
Guest
As a Panther fan, I think the whole sorry saga around Moylan is another prize stuff up by the Panthers management. Gould & his puppet Griffin, in particular need to explain what has gone on here. Moylan is one of the few players in the game that can actually win you a game of footy. Till this season he was to be the focal point of the Panthers future and was hence re-signed for 5 years. The Club's managing of him needs some serious scrutiny. Not only have the Panthers let Moylan go, but earlier in the season they also let go Te Marie Martin ( with some encouragement from Moylan, I do believe) . So they have let go two of the brightest young talents in key spine positions that all teams search high and low for, and in return they pick up an aging , out of form, infringement specialist for the same money as Moylan , and justifying it all with dubious vagaries of him having been a past winner ? Please ! Assuming Moylan stays clear of Northies and Fifita's nonsence, the Sharks have got an absolute bargain and finally a potential match winner in their team. As likely have the Cowboys with Martin in coming seasons. Whilst in return the Panthers have an aging 6, who has been out of form for a while, and now with a refs target on his back, who was once in two premiership winning teams. No way have the Panthers had a win here. About as useful to Penrith as the time Gould took Fittler to the Chooks !
Nat
Roar Guru
I think both are hugely talented but yeah, come with baggage. Both had lost interest in their clubs when they felt they weren't the superstar. With Moylan, I think hook gave him massive responsibility and held to extreme account for it. Between getting stood down then his injuries and the rise of Edwards/May in 'his' position/s got his nose out of joint. Without the accountability and knowing his role (I'd have him at FB for a while longer) he will be as good as ever. Dugan is a star and can be in any position. He wants FB money and got it but play him in the centres. A big, strong, aggressive player who defends well. Neither off-field issues should take away from next year and, keep in mind, what happens below the bridge, tends to stay below the bridge.
Chook
Guest
No doubt they have talent. Consistency is what's lacking. Anyway all will be revealed.
KenW
Guest
I see Dugan's return to the 'bad-boy' fold in 2017 mostly as a beat-up. The origin pub session was poor decision making but there's zero accusation that he did anything wrong while there. Months later he missed the bus and missed a match for it - nothing to celebrate but hardly worthy of the Todd Carney hall of fame. He's got the history of causing trouble but nothing significant for years now - I don't see him as much risk. Moylan's problems of course are much more recent and pretty vague to the population at large. Maybe it will all disappear at a new club, but there's got to be some concern that he has a few Foran-esque years in the wilderness ahead of him.
Oto shark
Guest
Good deal for both teams ,but better long term for the sharks. The sharks gamble on not upgrading Maloney's salary might just pay off if they land moylan.
Godragonsgo
Guest
Any concerns that the Sharks have bought two players with off-field issues in 2017. Moylan missing matches despite being fit whilst Dugan missed matches by missing the bus?
souvalis
Guest
Sharks have the money...Flanno just didn’t think he was worth the upgrade he was asking for.....and there won’t be too many Shark fans who watch them play week in week out arguing...
Greg Ambrose
Guest
DCE has been greatly underestimated in my opinion. In his first year at the Eagles he was the spark for a premiership. He was then awarded the Clive Churchill medal in a losing GF against a much bigger pack. In a very good Manly side he was one of the top players. Since then he has played behind a struggling team and I'm fairly sure he was also injured last year. This year with a more competitive pack he was one of the best halves if not the best in the comp. Our best ever half I say. Maybe Moylan has some similarities but they both have the ability to attack and be creative which is seemingly becoming a rarer commodity in the halves these days. DCE got Manly over the line in many games last season and that's what you want in a half.
Chook
Guest
I agree about Moylan and the captaincy. If you don't know what being the boss is it is like a milestone around your neck. People like the Reverend Smith who know what his job is feel no weight at all. In fact the job is made easier. I don't know what potential Moylan holds. Never really followed his career and what I saw wasn't that impressive. He reminds me a lot of DCE. It will all be all up to Flanagan to inspire this boy, and let's face it, he is facing an uphill battle. If Phil Gould who is one of the finest motivators in the business couldn't do it...well I don't envy Shane's task. Penrith have received the better of this deal. Can even see a Final 4 finish. The last time was 2014 with an imported experienced 5/8 and game manager. I can see them doing well in 2018
Larry1950
Guest
Ah, Matt Moylan, typical millenial who bails when things get a bit hard. Probably been told by mum & dad that he's a champion since he started playing footy at 6, natural talent isn't enough with a coach like Hook who wants to play a simple game because his tactical nouse is very limited. Maloney was a liability at every level this season, unhappy with his pay so his lack of discipline & effort sabotaged the Sharks and NSW. If the Sharks couldn't afford to upgrade Maloney under their salary cap as he wanted because they spent Lenny on Dugan, how do they afford the extra cash for Moylan? Maloney is getting a pay rise at the panthers but it's probably only up to what Moylan was on, but Moylan is getting a fair bit more than Maloney was supposed to be on. Bird wasn't on the elite money so they can't argue that him going freed up heaps, all looks suss to me.
Donga
Guest
I knew before the news came out about Moylan. I was at the Thur night home game against the Bulldogs and Moylan was out injured and our 26 year-old captain showed his immaturity by playing with a yoyo whilst watching the game from the side lines . And now i look at it he could have played the final series and parted ways at season end but no he spat his dummy and let all fans and team mates down .DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT SOOKIELALA
Big Daddy
Guest
Moylan could do with a fresh start as obviously there is a problem between him an the coach. But falling in with guys like Dugan and fifita could be a negative. Remember he got dropped for breaking curfew ( we all know what that means). Northies will get a good workout
Greg
Guest
Good move by the Sharks. Maloney has played for four clubs (Storm, Warriors, Roosters, Sharks) and has never once resigned with a club. He was always going to chase the money for 2019, and most likely would have signed with someone else before a ball was kicked in 2018 meaning his focus would have been elsewhere next season. With Austin and Keary the only decent 5/8's off contract for 2019 the Sharks have secured a rep standard player for the next four seasons in that position. Maloney also might get upset again when the cap rises for 2019 and he sees younger players signing for more than he's on.
RandyM
Guest
while I don't necessarily think the Sharks are getting a bad deal here the Panthers are definitely the winner out of this. They don't really need Moylan and could do with some added experience in the squad, especially a half that can mentor Cleary. The Sharks are looking to re-fresh their team so this could turn out well for them too.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Unless the rumours are true and the Sharks are chasing Mitch Pearce as well.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I think every party is a winner in this. Sharks spine for the next decade now sorted with a Holmes, Moylan, Townsend or Flanagan at 7 and Brailey at 9.