As the NRL’s player merry-go-round hit superb heights within the last few weeks, questions can’t help being asked about a tournament just over six months away – State of Origin.
The Sydney Roosters prized signature of Cooper Cronk has forced their halfback of 11 years, Mitchell Pearce, to join the Newcastle Knights. Meanwhile, five-eighth James Maloney has left the Cronulla Sharks to join the Penrith Panthers in a swap with Matt Moylan.
Pre-season training has only just begun, and neither player has played an official minute with their new club, but in this tale of two halves, Maloney’s move to Penrith may have dealt Pearce an unintentional blow to his 2018 representative hopes.
Pearce and Maloney together won an NRL premiership with the Sydney Roosters in 2013, and three consecutive minor premierships from that year to 2015. But one honour that’s eluded the halves pairing is a State of Origin series victory.
Of the six Origin matches they’ve played alongside each other – three in 2013, and three in 2017, they’ve won two, and lost four. Individually, Pearce has played 18 matches with a winning percentage of 27.28 per cent, whereas Maloney has played nine matches with a winning percentage of 33.33 per cent.
This year, according to the experts, the commentators and every NSW supporter, the Blues were supposed to win the Origin series. After a dominating Game 1 win over the Maroons at Suncorp, the path was laid to turn the tide and begin the NSW dynasty.
Yet in typical Queensland fashion, they broke the hearts of every Blues supporter by winning the next two games and clinching the shield they weren’t meant to.
And so the next opportunity for Origin glory begins on June 6, 2018. But will Blues incumbent halves pairing be lining up against the Maroons together in six months’ time?
Queensland’s dominant halves pairing of Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk won’t be there to steer the ship, and this changing of the guard could be the opportunity for Pearce and Maloney to claim their maiden series win.
At the end of Round 7 this year, the Roosters and Sharks were third and fourth on the ladder, respectively, justifying Pearce and Maloney’s selection for Game 1.
But in 2018, the Blues halves will be in completely new circumstances, and it’s Maloney’s move to Penrith that almost secures his spot in the team, at Pearce’s expense.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
31-year-old two-time premiership winner Maloney will link up with 2017’s highest point-scorer, 20-year-old Nathan Cleary, playing right into the hands of new Blues coach Brad Fittler.
“Nathan Cleary, he’s the one who actually looks like he handles pressure better than anyone,” Fittler said of the younger Panthers halfback in 2016 after he was rewarded being named in the emerging NSW Blues squad.
Cleary has been on the rise since his NRL debut in 2016, and pairing with the experienced Maloney for the next three seasons will be a huge benefit to his development.
“I’m looking forward to playing alongside him and hopefully helping him take his game to the next level,” Maloney said in Penrith’s signing announcement.
According to Fittler’s right-hand man, former Penrith great Greg Alexander, Cleary’s time in a representative jersey is “just a matter of when it happens.”
Could Cleary’s time be in 2018? Should Penrith find themselves well placed in the Top 8 come Origin selection time, Maloney and Cleary could be the first club halves pairing selected for the Blues since 2014 (Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson, then at the Bulldogs).
Cleary’s introduction into Origin football would be made easier being partnered with Maloney, and this makes Maloney indispensable.
But what about Pearce? He’ll likely be partnering fellow ex-Rooster Connor Watson in the halves in a Newcastle side that has revamped their line-up with experienced signings such as Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Aidan Guerra, and youthful signings such as Kalyn Ponga and Tautau Moga.
28-year-old Pearce is in his prime, and has to leave a powerful impression at Newcastle in the next four years. But his move was met with immediate criticism from former Blues captain and teammate Paul Gallen.
Gallen fears that Pearce’s move to Newcastle has put his Origin career in casualty, because he won’t be surrounded by a team filled representative players and premiership winners like the Roosters, or Gallen’s Sharks.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Responding to Gallen in a press conference, Pearce said “main focus of my decision was firstly happiness, a new opportunity and a new challenge.”
“All that other stuff takes care of itself, if you’re being the best person you can every day.”
Pearce’s attitude to his future is the right one. Newcastle, despite new signings, won’t become a premiership contender overnight. But if Pearce continues to play at the level that saw him help the Roosters to the preliminary finals last year, his case for retaining his Origin jersey will strengthen.
Though, the road towards that has become tricky. If the new-look Newcastle are positioned in the Top 8 ahead of selection for Game 1 next year, Pearce may be hard to overlook.
On the other hand, the Panthers have played finals football for the last two seasons, and the addition of Maloney vastly improves their chances of winning the premiership. If Maloney and Cleary prove a formidable halves pairing, and Newcastle can’t turn their fortunes around, then the selection writes itself.
Origin football may be over six months away, but the pre-season player merry-go-round has already whet the appetites of rugby league fans, adding new intrigue to the 2018 season. When it comes to Pearce and Maloney, their best footy may be awaiting us.
Larry1950
Guest
Indicates that coaching a rep side is totally different to the 10 month grind of club footy, plus the fact that Mal is probably a different person and coach to the one who tried to coach the Raiders back then. It does help that he could just seamlessly adopt the Qld structures with the maroon & Storm spine (subbing Morgan in) who had all the plays already in place. I think he's value added to a few of those NSW forwards, but agree that might have come from being around Smith for an extended period. The other thing was he didn't have to deal with a hot and cold Andrew Fifita. I have to agree with Jacob as well on Griffin, he's a very limited coach who can take the flair out of good players so Cleary & Maloney beware. Still think he stuffed Brisbanes chances of a premiership in his time there and lost us Gagai through not being able to manage a bit of a lost kid.
McThug
Guest
Im a QLDr and so I hope they don't pick Cleary, but they should. He is so ready, and Moylan should be 5/8. Those two in those positions are the future for NSW. They already have great forwards in their prime, so add to genuine play makers with Teddy orT....vitch at the back and NSW will be formidable
Jacob
Guest
Cleary and Maloney have to worry about Anthony Griffin first and be able to see their club side move forward. Something that hasnt happened the last 2 seasons.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
'Dynasty' might make a bit of sense in that case. If Mal has the magic bullet in turning under performers into consistent players then where was his magic when he coached in the NRL? The NSW players you speak of are playing well in a superior team with a clearly superior spine.
Larry1950
Guest
Just to differentiate from the previous two media proclaimed dynasties under Gould (1992-5) and Stuart (2003-5) that met surprising untimely ends, unlike the maroon version. I don't like the shouting upper case style, sorry if I offended your grammatical sensibilities. No problem with my assertions, just the punctuation? My key concern is the fact that Mal may have turned a number of NSW under performers into consistent players, the by-product of his Qld ethos.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Tim, Haas only just turned 18. he will be a factor in years to come but not next year
Greg Ambrose
Guest
What's the difference between Fittler and 'Fittler' ?
Larry1950
Guest
Ah, 3 months until 2018 season kick off and NSW supporters are selecting their origin side to begin the new 'Fittler' dynasty. Do you pick serial chokers (Pearce etc), untried boom rookies (Cleary, Moses), flakey characters (Moylan, Maloney) or just pluck a name from the hat? Can't wait for the article on Robbie Farah's origin rebirth after his Lebanon journey. Meanwhile you'll have the best pack, best fullback, more pace, more youthful energy & it makes me wonder if Qld should just pull the plug now & declare, we're so far ahead. We'll just pick a no-name pack, proven backline and hope to keep your champs under 50 points. Thurston & Cronk gone, Inglis & Scott back, seems a reasonable swap.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Problem for QLD, having represented NSW u16s and u18s
Squidward
Roar Rookie
What?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Shert...forgot he's playing for the Tigers now...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Josh Reynolds has a better win percentage (games and series) than the lot of them. Just sayin
Tim
Guest
We have bigger problems with QLD ... His name is Payne Hass !
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Luis, Coach Freddy, selector Brandy and adviser Gus are ALL Panthers either directly or indirectly so logic would suggest that Moylan will have to start the big so well that his selection is a given. If it is 50/50 he will lose out, that's the shame of politics. On Cleary, he showed in his final game this year against the Broncos at Suncorp in front of a huge biased crowd exactly how he would respond in similar Origin conditions. Answer: he had a shocker missing 5 tackles, in fact he also missed 5 tackles in 3 of his last 4 matches, but the pressure really impacted his 5th tackle options v Broncos.
Luis Charalambous
Roar Rookie
He had a great run with Lebanon in the World Cup and he looked after he settled in with Parramatta. Very interested to see how he goes this year. It will be a much closer race than in previous years.
Luis Charalambous
Roar Rookie
I'm actually a Roosters fan. I do agree with Pearce being more consistent - he has the experience. I think though if Cleary and Maloney prove effective at club level, then it creates a threat to his spot that he probably wouldn't have had before Maloney's move - particularly when you take into account the talk of injecting youth into the team. If he rises to challenge he's got with Newcastle, and he's the best option, he should be picked. That's what makes Pearce and Maloney's club switches even more intriguing.
Roarfan
Guest
Luis, You are correct when you say NSW domminated the first match but have a look at the team Qld picked. That team will go down as the biggest stuff up of all time. Even the NSW fans could not believe it. It took the press to tell them what they had done wrong. Yes Qld will be without their star halves but will have Morgan, Munster, Hunt and a couple of others including Inglis ready to stake their claim. I do think NSW are a little stronger in the forwards
souvalis
Guest
Make or break year for Mitchell Moses....he’s the smokey,could be better than all of them,I think he is....
Nat
Roar Guru
Is it safe to assume the author is a Panthers fan? I agree that being part of a successful team offers better exposure for rep duties and we all know where the Knights have occupied the last few seasons. But the Panthers are only middle road with potential, however long they can keep that tag for. If Maloney can lift them to mild success, say 4-5th is a good effort but should Knights go top 8, with less branded cattle, surely that elevates Pearce into rep contention again. Both have great skills and I think Pearce is more consistent and a better in-play kicking game. So before NSW throw another young half into the cauldron due to potential, let him earn it and play better than the other contenders in Moylan, Moses or the two Reynolds boys first.
Albo
Guest
I think Pearce only got the 7 spot this year so that NSW could give Cleary another year to develop, and there were no other viable halves options. Pearce won't play SOO again if Cleary remains fit in 2018. As for his likely halves partner, at 6 , assuming Moylan keeps his nose clean and away from Northies down at Cronulla, then he should grab the 6 jumper, and link up again with Cleary for NSW. Fittler, Brandy & Gus are all fans of both Cleary & Moylan ( despite his walkout from Penrith). I am sure this Blues brains trust have earmarked Cleary & Moylan as the key halves to be heading up the next Blues dynasty. Only if Moylan fails to fire in his new Cronulla home this year, will they revert to Maloney, assuming his own form improves now out at Penrith.