James Maloney sacked by North Queensland Cowboys after drink driving charge

Assistant coach James Maloney has been fired by the Cowboys following an off-field incident involving police in the lead-up to Saturday night’s clash against the Bulldogs in Sydney.

North Queensland Cowboys attack coach James Maloney. Picture: NRL Imagery / Zain Mohammed

The Cowboys’ finals campaign has been rocked by revelations North Queensland assistant coach James Maloney has been sacked after being charged with drink driving.

This masthead can reveal Maloney has been fired by the Cowboys immediately following an off-field incident involving police in the lead-up to Saturday night’s clash against the Bulldogs in Sydney.

Maloney was booked for alleged DUI over the weekend and has severed ties with the Cowboys immediately.

“I’m disappointed, what can I say,” Maloney said.

“It was only a low range charge, it wasn’t excessively over.

“But the club’s position was that in my role as a leader and in coaching, it wasn’t acceptable.

“I’ve got no ill-will towards the Cowboys.

James Maloney has been fired by the Cowboys. Picture: Getty Images

“Personally I’m disappointed in myself that my mistake has become a distraction for the club at this time of the year.

“We’re not in normal jobs unfortunately and things like this are unacceptable in the NRL.

“But when one door closes another one opens. We’ll see what happens.”

It is a drama the Cowboys can do without as sixth-placed North Queensland fight for a home semi-final against the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.

Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck confirmed Maloney, one of head coach Todd Payten’s key assistants, has been terminated by North Queensland bosses on the eve of the finals.

“James has left our employment,” Luck said.

“It’s an amicable split. It’s a staff member so we won’t be commenting any further.”

A two-time premiership winner, Maloney joined the Cowboys on a two-year deal last November.

The 37-year-old has worked for the Cowboys since returning home at the end of last year after a stint in the UK Super League and lower division French rugby league.

He knocked back a consultancy role at his old club the Sydney Roosters to take on the job.

Maloney appeared in 247 NRL games over the course of an 11-year career, which included premierships with the Roosters in 2013 and the Sharks in 2016.

James Maloney joined the Cowboys on a two-year deal last November. Picture: Getty Images

Maloney said earlier this year his signing with the Cowboys came out of the blue.

“I arrived back in the country on a Tuesday and by Thursday we had just finished organising the kids back into school out in Penrith where we were moving back to,” he said.

“I went to a chicken shop and bumped into Isaac Moses, who looks after Todd Payten.

“As I was heading out he said to me, ‘What are you doing?’, and I said, ‘I’m doing some stuff with the Roosters’, and he said, ‘Toddy is looking for an attack coach up there’.

“I had a chat with Toddy on the phone, flew up the following week, and by the Friday I had a job. I phoned ‘Robbo’ (Roosters coach Trent Robinson) when I got the Cowboys job.

“He said he was always happy to have a chat if I had any questions about coaching.”

Maloney was seen giving instructions in last week’s 38-30 win over the Storm in Townsville, but he is now officially gone from the Cowboys.

Originally published as James Maloney sacked by North Queensland Cowboys after drink driving charge