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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.
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