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Maloney announces retirement from Rugby League

17 Aug 21, 12:43PM 0 Comments

Written by Oliver Kellner-Dunk

Photo by Getty Images

Rugby League legend James Maloney will be hanging the boots up at the end of season 2021 after an illustrious career, to say the least.

The five-eighth would make his first-grade debut with the Melbourne Storm back in 2009, before setting off across the Tasman to play for the New Zealand Warriors between 2010 and 2012, playing in the club’s 2011 Grand Final loss against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Following this, a move to the Sydney Roosters came in 2013, with Maloney apart of a premiership-winning side during his first season with the tricolours, before eventually leaving at the end of 2015 to take up a deal at Cronulla, where he would, again, be apart of a premiership-winning side during his first season at the club, as the Sharks won their maiden title in 2016.

Eventually, Maloney would be a part of a player swap in 2018 that saw Matthew Moylan move to the Sharks and the 35-year-old move to the Penrith Panthers, before accepting a deal at Super League club the Catalans Dragons.

During his career, Maloney has also played the game at a representative level, making 14 appearances for New South Wales between 2013 and 2019, winning two State of Origin series, and donning the green and gold of the Australian Kangaroos on three occasions, including an outing for the World Champions at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

There is still a real opportunity for Maloney to further cement his legacy too, as his club the Catalans Dragons currently sit atop the Super League table with 16 wins and just two losses so far this season.

If he were to lead the Dragons to their maiden title, then it would be a gargantuan moment not only in the history of Super League but in the history of Rugby League itself, as they would become the first French side to win the British game’s top prize.

All in all, James Maloney has had one of the great professional Rugby League careers and will be a name that goes down in history with the very best of them!

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