Do NSW have an answer to King Wally Lewis of Queensland? James Maloney is definitely putting his hand up in 2018.
If you look at his career to date, his influence on sides is almost unmatched.
As a young five-eighth, he learnt his trade at the Melbourne Storm under players like Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Cameron Smith.
In search of a regular first-grade gig, he took a punt and crossed the ditch to play for the hapless New Zealand Warriors. He transformed them into winners and in his second year, took them to the 2011 grand final, against Manly. Although unsuccessful on the day, Maloney played a key role throughout the game and the entire finals series.
The previous year he scored 188 points and ten tries, placing him near the top of the Daily M Awards list.
But Maloney was only getting started. He was poached by the Sydney Roosters in 2013 and delivered them a grand final victory in his first year. After a few magical seasons as chief playmaker and goal-kicker, he ventured over to the Cronulla Sharks. It’s no coincidence that they then won their first grand final ever. That’s right, the first one for a club who entered the competition way back in 1967. Talk about the Midas touch!
He’s now at the Penrith Panthers and by the looks of his stellar performance on the weekend he’s only getting better. With child-genius halfback Nathan Cleary on the long-term injury list, Maloney took control of the game against the Cowboys and directed the team around the park to chalk up a convincing upset.
Surely he’ll be the first person picked in the NSW State Of Origin team. The question is, can he reach the heights of King Wally in the ferociously competitive Origin arena?
NSW fans desperately hope so.
Matt
Guest
On the Blues team in general, I cant comprehend Ennis coming out to declare that Koroisau should be hooker ?!? I mean to say, he's as Fijian as Semi Radradra so he is not even eligible. One scrum too many I think Mr Ennis.
Dr.Jesse
Guest
Maybe. It's happening to the Cowboys this year, but they were great last year. Storm are weaker, but that's because Cronk is gone.
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
There is a trend where Grand Final winning teams fade out during the following years. This is slowly happening to the Sharks, and losing Maloney isn't helping their cause at all. Not to say that they don't have class in their team. The injury-prone Dugan is also a strange buy.
Nostradufus
Guest
Must say that I'm in awe of the recruitment Strategists down at the Sharkies. They had Malony secured well below market value but ignored his request for a well deserved upgrade after he took them to a premiership. Maloney's displeasure was obvious in 2017 as he gave away a number of needless frustrated penalties (dog whistles) and eventually took the opportunity to move on to Penrith and be paid properly. What we're the Sharks thinking? Maloney is clearly one to keep once you've got him on the books, but apparently the Sharks think luring two talented halves managing dodgy legs in the bush is worth releasing one star, super resilient, world class, G.F. winning half in the hand. Surely who ever brokered this 'cunning plan' must be the modern equivalent. to Black Adder's servant Baldrick. Moylan and Hodkinson are far from lemons, but they are at higher risk of breakdown. Why cast aside class and stability (Maloney) only to introduced higher risk players who are likely to be in and out of the team according to the week by week State of various chronic leg injuries? To my mind this is importing instability. Teams with ongoing instability in key positions slowly fall away from the front runners. After all, who trades sweet potatoes for turnips?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Unfortunately for the Blues...
Emcie
Roar Guru
Don't the Dogs have an all Kiwi halves pairing now though?
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
The Eels wouldn't mind a bit of Gutho right about now!!
Nat
Roar Guru
Kenny was good in a team of superstars for Parra. Neither Lamb or Lyons can boats having Price, Cronin, Ella, Stero, Grothe et al... to play off the back of.
Nat
Roar Guru
Really? You're going to cherry pick that flawed stat because he ran on at centre a few times. Even then, I wouldn't consider 1 more winning game at 5/8 "a lot" would you? I think that's referred to as: Reaching. He has a losing % in both games and series for NSW - in any position. Never MoM. Never captain. Again, Kenny was very good but there is no comparison to him the The King.
Forty Twenty
Guest
Brett Kenny , voted best player in the world as Golden boot winner. Got the better of Lewis in SOO ( any other 5/8 do that) scored 2 tries in each of three grand final wins and was always picked ahead of any Manly or Canterbury player in the national team including Tezza Lamb and Cliff Lyons.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don't think anyone has ever had the impact on Origin that Lewis did over such a long period and probably never will. Players have had a brilliant game or an outstanding series, arguably as good as anything Lewis put up but Lewis did it time and again for a decade. There were plenty of times NSW had a superior team 'on paper' but Lewis was the catalyst for them to lift and play beyond themselves...or he'd just do it all himself.
Forty Twenty
Guest
When Kenny played 5/8 against Lewis he won a lot more games than Lewis in SOO.
Jay Ross
Roar Guru
Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns would come close to Kings of NSW.
Albo
Guest
Whilst I hope you are right Jay, and Maloney does dominate the season, you have really gone the early crow here. He has had one good match this year very much on the back of a dominant Panthers pack last week. As a Panther fan, I only hope they can keep it going now. Maloney's next serious assignment is to get a win against the Eels this week before we think about his possible Origin impact. The key to any good halfback controlling the play will be determined by the performance of his pack , and this is where NSW will also need to be dominant if it is to stop the QLD run of success. NSW don't need any "kings" just a good team where everyone is doing their job. Despite how well Maloney might go in 2018, comparing Maloney to Wally Lewis would never be contemplated by most league fans.
RandyM
Guest
Laurie Daley was supremely good for NSW in the 6 jersey from 1992 - 1999, maybe not Lewis like but he was not far off.
The Barry
Roar Guru
7 = Terry Lamb Dally M 5/8 of the year 0 = Brett Kenny Dally M 5/8 of the year
The Barry
Roar Guru
I knew I wasn't the only one who thought that...
Nat
Roar Guru
You mean where Kenny won 2/6 series against him? Or on those occasions NSW did win, Wally still won MoM award from the losing team? As good as Kenny was, he wasn't even the best in his club team let alone captain his State or Country. You're not still salty he turned his back on Manly are you? ;)
peeeko
Roar Guru
nothing to do with Hayne, it was all Josh reynolds
Nat
Roar Guru
If nothing else that opening line will attract comments. It is all too easy to pull apart but I respect your passion/desire for someone to step up for NSW in the halves. In truth NSW could have had Lewis play for the Blues over the previous decade but Qld as demonstrated many times over it's about the 17 players out there not one legend. Hopefully Freddy will have 17 players who want to be there, are humbled to be selected and not those who believe they deserve to be there.