Roosters v Panthers pits Cooper Cronk against James Maloney as the game’s two finest playmakers
COMPARING Cooper Cronk and James Maloney is like judging Tom Cruise against Jack Nicholson. One polished and perfect, the other wearing a smart-arse smile. Yet the pair’s differences are their greatest strengths, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
Opinion
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COMPARING Cooper Cronk and James Maloney is like judging Tom Cruise up against Jack Nicholson.
Cronk is always so polished and perfect, while Maloney is almost always wearing a five-day growth, a smart-arse smile and hair like he just rolled out of bed.
In many respects, their polar personalities are the perfect reflection of their respective clubs — the Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers — and how they play.
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When Cronk arrived as the star recruit for Bondi’s big spenders this year, the expectation was that his obsessive attention to detail would turn the game’s best roster into an unbeatable force.
Whereas when Maloney rocked up at Penrith, no one knew what to expect. For his first media conference to announce his arrival, Maloney wore daggy Hawaiian shorts and no shoes.
When a Penrith official handed him his club polo shirt, he did so with an obvious look of concern — that perhaps Maloney was underdressed for the occasion.
“Don’t worry,” Maloney joked, “they only shoot waist up.”
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You listen to the conversation about the great halves in the modern era and while Cronk always deservedly gets his mention, Maloney, most often, is overlooked.
But consider this: if Maloney is to go on this year and play in the grand final for Penrith, he will become the first player in the game’s history to do so at four different clubs.
Fox Sports Stats show Maloney is already one of only seven players to have played in grand finals at three clubs — and he is the only permanent halve on the list.
In 2011, he did it under Ivan Cleary in his second year at the Warriors.
Then in his first year at the Roosters in 2013, he won the competition.
After that, he went to Cronulla and won the grand final in 2016, again in his first year.
Now in his first year at Penrith, well, the results so far only add to Maloney’s value as a hired gun.
Everywhere he goes, success follows. So is it luck, or is he the lucky charm?
And if Maloney is the constant in all this success, has his career received the recognition it deserves?
It’s a fair debate ahead of these two going head-to-head on Friday night when the Roosters tackle the Panthers.
As we’ve seen time and again throughout his decorated career, Maloney’s carefree personality is perhaps his greatest strength.
Phil Gould said it on reflection of Maloney’s rocks and diamonds performance in the State of Origin opener: “He’s got the worst memory in the world.”
Yes, he can come up with a vital mistake like the intercept he threw Valentine Holmes for a Queensland try.
But that didn’t stop him icing the game for NSW. And it happens too frequently to be called luck.
I asked his former Cronulla teammate Luke Lewis about him this week.
Lewis had no doubt about Maloney’s ability to bring the best out of players around him, and it’s not just because Maloney is good fun to be around.
What Lewis pointed out was Maloney’s ability to play “eyes up footy”, and how he does it better than any playmaker in the game today.
Lewis described it as “old-school” in that Maloney can play either side and to structure — but structure won’t stop him seizing opportunity.
Which is often the criticism of Cronk, yet also his great strength. While Cronk’s performances this season have been somewhat undervalued, the Roosters have been a slow cook adapting to his style.
But there is no question, as the weeks roll on, the pre-season premiership favourites are starting to look like the force everyone expected them to be — and that’s because of Cronk’s game management.
Meanwhile, the Panthers haven’t missed a beat, even when Nathan Cleary went down with his knee injury.
Everyone thought Penrith’s hopes might fall with him, but Maloney took charge like he’d been at the club forever.
Then when Cleary returned, Maloney was happy to pass control back to his younger halves partner.
There is no question Maloney’s arrival has helped take Cleary’s game to another level.
And while they were both anything but spectacular in last Friday night’s 23-22 win over Canberra, when the game was on the line, they delivered.
It was funny watching Maloney even before kick-off. He came walking out of the tunnel at GIO Stadium still dressed in his tracksuit less than an hour before the match.
While all the players were in the sheds getting strapped and ready, Maloney stood on the field kicking footballs with kids.
Two days after playing in NSW’s win in Melbourne, it looked as though Anthony Griffin might be giving Maloney the night off.
Then when it was time for the coin toss, he took his spot beside Jarrod Croker.
Maloney won the toss and cheered like he’d won a game of Two Up. Then he asked Croker which was the best way to run in Canberra.
Croker pointed one way.
“I’ll go the other way,” Maloney smiled.
It’s like nothing in the world matters to him — except winning whatever game it is he is playing at that very moment.
Originally published as Roosters v Panthers pits Cooper Cronk against James Maloney as the game’s two finest playmakers
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