James Maloney wants to add Penrith NRL title to France bound luggage

James Maloney will finish his NRL career to play rugby league in France next season, but says he intends on heading overseas with a Penrith premiership under his belt.

James Maloney is to quit the NRL for the Super League. Photo: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

• EURO TRIP: Macdonald skips court for Italian vacation

• GAMESMANSHIP: Experts agree Smith ‘fools’ refs

From the Nepean River to the French Riviera, James Maloney is ready to “empty the tank” in an all-or-nothing bid to farewell Penrith with a grand final win.

The Panthers on Wednesday confirmed The Daily Telegraph’s report that Maloney would leave Penrith at the end of the season to join UK Super League club Catalans Dragons on a three-year deal.

After 11 seasons, Maloney, 33, now has just two months left of his stellar NRL career.

From next season, young halves Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Matt Burton will steer the Panthers around.

Maloney will leave the NRL with huge respect. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

MORE NRL NEWS

TRANSFERS: LIVEWIRE RAKE FORCED FROM MANLY’S NEST

CAMPO’S CORNER: HASLER FOUND WHAT HE NEVER LOST

Until then, Maloney wants to ensure he leaves Penrith on a high.

“Now I have a pretty steely focus on the end now so I want to empty the tank and see what we can do,” Maloney said. “This gives you a focus and there’s no doubt we have the talent to do it. Hopefully I can go out on a high.

Having won seven successive games, Penrith face fourth-placed Canberra at Panthers Stadium on Sunday in a real test of their premiership credentials.

LISTEN! Matty’s back with Kenty and Finchy and they run the rule over the Raiders premiership chances, try to understand what’s happening at the Sharks and look back at the ‘89 grand final and ask what would have happened if the Tigers won.

“A big reason I came to Penrith when I did was because I thought there was a really good opportunity to have success. I still think there is,” Maloney said.

“There is still a lot of hard work to do. We’re not at the point just now to be winning a comp but it’s not out of reach.

“It’s there, it can be done.”

An Origin win was the perfect way to sign off for NSW. Photo: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Panthers media manager Evan Sieff texted Maloney on Wednesday saying The Daily Telegraph had broken the story about his move.

“Once it was out of the bag, we had a team meeting and I jumped up and told them what was going on. I greeted them with a bonjour and had a laugh,” Maloney said.

“Players move all the time so I don’t think there will be a situation where it’s ‘do it for Jimmy’.

“I’m not getting any younger. I’m 33 now. If I go over and have three years, that takes me to 36 and then I might have to start finding a real job.”

Catalans Dragons recently played Warriors at Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium. Photo: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

An Aussie larrikin who enjoys a punt, Maloney said the only French word he knew was bonjour.

“I ate snails over there in Paris one time — they are called Escargot. They’re not that bad actually. They came out with green stuff on them,” he said.

“The lifestyle attraction in the south of France as opposed to the north of England was a drawcard.

Leeds had expressed interest but Maloney had his heart set on France.

He had worked with Catalans coach Steve McNamara when he was an assistant at the Roosters.

“It probably started when we were in that (early season) rut,” Maloney said of his French move. “Mac called me one morning and asked about next year, would I be available.

Maloney has done it all in the NRL. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I told him I’d have to talk to Penrith and I came in and had a conversation with Ivan (Cleary, coach) the next day. We worked through it from there.

“I knew it was the right time because as soon as Mac called and I started thinking about it becoming a viable option, I was really excited.

“That told me I was ready to go. But there was no way I could walk away if the season went to shit.

“I didn’t want to leave Penrith in a hole. I wanted to make sure I did the right thing by them. They are in a good position. They have a lot of young kids here.”

Maloney said young Luai was ready to step up next season.

“He is a really exciting kid. He had bided his time and stayed here and been drip-fed and played out of position, things like that. He’ll be ready to go,” Maloney said.

Originally published as James Maloney wants to add Penrith NRL title to France bound luggage