Fittler responds to rumours surrounding Maloney's return
Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler believes James Maloney would be best suited at a club struggling for form if speculation proves correct he is heading back to the NRL.
Maloney left the Penrith Panthers at the end of the 2019 season after signing with Catalan Dragons, but rumours emerged on Tuesday the two-time premiership-winner is considering a shock return home following the suspension of the Super League competition over the coronavirus pandemic.
No clubs have been officially linked to the 34-year-old just yet but Fittler believes Maloney could be a valuable acquisition for any club which is looking for a ‘winner’s attitude’.
“Well I suppose if you have that (winning) attitude you have got to go to the teams that are down the bottom that haven’t got it,” Fittler told Five with Freddy.
“He lightens the load up at training, that’s one thing he does really well.
“He just makes it a bit real and It’s just to the point where he’s just James Maloney every day.
“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, he comes with a smile, he’s light hearted and he works hard and he can certainly play footy.
“He’s been valuable at a few teams.”
Maloney seemingly ended his career in the NRL last season with 247 first-games, 14 appearances for NSW, three Tests for Australia, and two premierships with the Roosters and Sharks respectively.
He built a reputation as having a profound impact on the clubs he signed with throughout his career, making the Grand Final in his first year with the Warriors in 2011 before winning premierships with the Roosters and Sharks in his maiden year at those clubs in 2013 and 2016.
He was also a core part of NSW’s back-to-back State of Origin Series victories in 2018 and 2019, which included a return in Game II last year where he produced a stunning performance after missing the opening game.
He played just four games for Catalan Dragons before the competition’s inevitable suspension earlier this year.