James Maloney

At 37 years old, James Maloney has this physical status:

James Maloney (born 15 June 1986) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off or scrum-half for the Catalans Dragons in the Betfred Super League. Maloney appeared in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, and the Penrith Panthers.

He also dominated the 2013 NRL Grand Final with the Roosters and the 2016 NRL Grand Final with the Sharks. He is a citizen of Australia and New South Wales State of Origin, Country Origin, and Prime Minister XIII Representative.

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Playing career

Maloney was one of the first to see the North Sydney Bears play in 2006. In 2007, he joined the Parramatta Eels and helped the Wentworthville Magpies win the New South Wales Cup in 2008. In 2008, he was a member of the NSW Cup team of the year. Despite Maloney's solid form in the NSW cup over the previous two seasons, he was unable to crack into first grade and instead signed with the Melbourne Storm for the 2009 season.

Maloney was born in Melbourne and competed for the Central Coast Storm in the NSW Cup in 2009. Maloney made his NRL debut against the Penrith Panthers in Round 5 of the 2009 NRL season, defeating the Melbourne Storm at five-eighth in the 16–14 victory at Olympic Park.

In 2009, Maloney represented the NSW people against the Queensland People. Despite good results on both NSW Cup and NRL, Maloney was limited to only 4 matches in the 2009 NRL season, and rival clubs were rallying together to give Maloney a better chance in first grade by the end of the season on August 7, 2009.

Maloney made his club debut against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 1 of the 2010 NRL season, playing at five-eighth against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 1 of the 24–18 loss at Robina Stadium. Maloney had a good match against the Brisbane Broncos in Round 3 by scoring a hattrick of tries that were his first NRL appearances and kicked 8 from 8 goals, winning the match by 28 points in the 48-46 victory at Suncorp Stadium. In his first full NRL season, Maloney had a breakthrough 2010 NRL season, scoring 188 points, 73 goals, and 2 field goals in 24 matches. It put him in contention for Dally M awards, and he was on the shortlist for the year's standoff at the Rugby League International Federation's awards. Maloney made his international debut on September 26, 2010, playing for Prime Minister's XIII, in a 30–18 victory at Port Moresby.

Despite falling short of losing 24–10, Maloney had an amazing year for the Warriors, where he helped his team make it to the 2011 NRL Grand Final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Maloney was the Warriors' highest point scorer in 2011 with 206 points, scoring ten tries, kicking 82 goals, and kickin 2 field goals in all 27 games. Maloney revealed on November 28th, 2011 that he had signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Roosters, beginning with the 2013 season.

Maloney played for 153 points, scoring 4 tries, kicking 67 goals, and kicking 3 field goals in all of the 24 games during his last year with the New Zealand Warriors.

Maloney made his Sydney Roosters debut against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 1 of the 2013 NRL season, scoring a try and kicking a goal. Maloney played for Country Origin against City Origin on April 21, 2013, playing at five-eighth at Coffs Harbour on Monday. Maloney made his State of Origin debut against Queensland in Game 1 of the series, with his Roosters halves partner Mitchell Pearce, playing at five-eighth and kicking 3 goals in the 14–6 victory at ANZ Stadium. In a 2–1 series loss, Maloney will participate in all three games in the 2013 State of Origins series for the Blues. Maloney played his 100th NRL match against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 25, defeating them 30–22 at Sydney Football Stadium. The Roosters won the minor premiership against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 26, with Maloney playing a key role in their triumphant 24-12 victory at ANZ Stadium, scoring 2 tries and kicking 4 goals. In the 2013 NRL Grand Final versus the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Maloney starred for the Roosters, setting up two tries with the boot and kicking 5 goals in the 26-18 victory and his first NRL victory. Maloney was the NRL's top points scorer for the 2013 NRL season, scoring 9 tries and kicking 108 goals in 25 Roosters games.

Despite Maloney's absence from official matches this year, the Roosters won their second Minor Premiership in a row. Maloney finished the 2014 NRL season with him playing in all of the Roosters' 27 games, scored 5 tries, kicked 106 goals, and kicked 2 field goals, tied for the highest point scorer in the NRL, with Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston tied for second place with 234 points.

Maloney was selected in the Roosters 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad in January 2015.

Maloney played for Country Origin against City Origin on May 3rd, playing at five-eighth and kicking 5 goals in the 34–22 victory at Wagga Wagga on May 3rd. Maloney announced on June 18 that he had signed the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks for a two-year contract, beginning in 2016. Maloney scored his 150th NRL match in Round 21 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 38–28 victory at Sydney Football Stadium. With 250 points, scoring 9 tries, kicking 106 goals, and kickin two field goals while playing in all of the Roosters' three Minor Premierships in the 2015 NRL season, the Roosters would win their third Minor Premiership in a row.

Maloney made his club debut against the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 1, kicking three goals and playing five-eighth at 1300SMILES Stadium. Maloney scored his first club effort for the Sharks in Round 5 against the Wests Tigers, as well as 7 goals at Campbelltown Stadium. In the 44–30 loss at Dubbo on Monday, Maloney played for Country Origin against City Origin, scoring two tries in the 44–30 loss. Maloney's stellar showing in the early rounds will guarantee him his recall for New South Wales for the 2016 State of Origins collection. Maloney scored his first attempt in a Blues jersey in Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium, losing by 26-16. In the 2–1 series loss, Maloney appeared in all three games for Blues, scored 1 and kicked 3 goals. Maloney helped the Sharks advance to the Finals, aiming to snap the Sharks' 49-year premiership drought. Maloney's remarkable Preliminary Finals match against the North Queensland Cowboys last year, was a thrilling 32–20 victory at Sydney Football Stadium, guaranteeing the Sharks a spot in the big decider until next week. Maloney was named as the Dally M five eighth of the year on September 28, 2016. Maloney was five-eighth in the Sharks' 2016 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm on October 2nd, kicking 3 goals in the Sharks' historic 14–12 triumph, their first premiership since being in the competition in 1967. Maloney completed his 2016 NRL season with him playing in 25 games, scoring 7 times, shooting 94 goals, and kickin 3 field goals, finishing the Sharks' highest point scorer with 219 points. Maloney was rewarded for his outstanding year with the Sharks in Mal Meninga's Australian 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations two days after the massive triumph on October 4th. In the stumbling 54-12 win over Craven Park in Hull on Monday, Maloney made his international debut for Australia against Scotland, scoring 1 try and kicking 7 goals. Maloney will only play in two games in the tournament, with 1 attempt and 7 goals.

Maloney was selected to play for New South Wales in the 2017 State of Origin series, playing at five-eighth in all three games, scoring 1 goal and kicking 7 goals in the 2–1 series loss. Maloney played his 200th NRL match against the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 24 at 1300SMILES Stadium. Maloney played in 2017 NRL season, scoring 4 tries, kicking 71 goals, and kicking 3 goals in 20 matches. Maloney was selected in Australia's 24-man squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup on October 2nd. Maloney will only play in one match in the tournament, which was against Lebanon, where he played at five-eighth, scored a try and kicked 4 goals in the 34-0 victory at Sydney Football Stadium. Maloney was expected to sign a player transfer contract with Matt Moylan of the Penrith Panthers in November 2017, according to rumors. Maloney signed the Penrith Panthers for three years, worth $2.4 million, and Matt Moylan was released from his contract to join the Sharks in a player trade contract a month later on December 3rd.

Maloney made his club debut against the Parramatta Eels in Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, defeating Penrith Penrith in a 24-14 victory. Maloney scored his first club effort for the Panthers in Round 3 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, defeating the Panthers 20-18 at ANZ Stadium. Maloney was selected to play Five Eighth for NSW's three games, the first since 2014.

As the team finished fifth on the table, Maloney made 22 appearances for Penrith. Penrith defeated the New Zealand Warriors 27–12 in week one of the finals. Maloney kicked a field goal and scored a goal. Penrith was defeated by Maloney's former team, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, 21-20, in week two.

Penrith had hoped to be contending for a spot in the top four of the tournament but they ended up last on the table after only winning 2 of their first ten games with Maloney and teammate Nathan Cleary copping criticism. Maloney was not selected by NSW coach Brad Fittler for the first game of the 2019 State of Origins series.

Penrith defeated Manly 15-12, with a three-goal field goal and a field goal. Maloney kicked field goals that lifted Penrith over the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney matches in the ensuing two weeks. Maloney was named in Game 2 of the 2019 State of Origin series in which New South Wales would go on to win 38–6 at Optus Stadium in Perth on June 16th.

Penrith defeated New Zealand 19-19-18 in round 15 against the New Zealand Warriors for his third field goal of the season. Maloney kicked 5 goals and helped New South Wales beat New South Wales 26-20 in Game 3 of the 2019 State of Origins series. It was the first time since 2005 that New South Wales had won back-to-back series. Thanks to a try by James Tedesco, the game was decided in the last minute of the match.

Maloney has signed a three-year contract with the Catalans Dragons, beginning with the 2020 season.

Maloney's last game in the NRL was against Newcastle in round 25 of round 25, where Penrith defeated Newcastle 54–10 at Penrith Park. Penrith finished tenth in the finals, despite finishing 10th.

Maloney appeared in 14 games for the Catalans Dragons in the 2020 Super League season, including the 48-2 loss to St Helens. In the first half of the game, Maloney was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.

In round 1 of the 2021 Super League season, the 2021 Super League season will begin. Catalans Dragons defeated Hull KR 29-28 after Maloney kicked a field goal in a golden point extra time. Maloney resigned from rugby league at the end of the 2021 Super League season on August 17th.

Maloney kicked a drop goal for Catalans, who defeated St Helens 31-30. With just five minutes remaining, Catalans were losing the match 30-12. Catalans also gained the League Leaders Shield for the first time after winning.

Maloney played for Catalans in their 2021 Super League Grand Final defeat over St. Helens on October 9th. Maloney's last game as a top-level professional rugby league player came early in the season, as he revealed his retirement earlier this year.

Maloney made his French Elite 1 debut in the French Elite 1, scoring five goals and the match-winning field goal on December 6th. After a suspected doping violation on April 10th, 2022, Maloney was barred from playing.

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