James Maloney says he never ignored the advice of Blues coach Brad Fittler
A CONFUSED James Maloney says he deserves to wear the NSW No. 6 jersey, stressing he has never ignored the advice of incoming Blues coach Brad Fittler.
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A CONFUSED James Maloney says he deserves to wear the NSW No. 6 jersey, stressing he has never ignored the advice of incoming Blues coach Brad Fittler.
Initially considered a certainty for the NSW backline, Maloney is suddenly having to defend his Origin claims against accusations of both a poor attitude and worrying defensive style — where he leads the NRL for most missed tackles.
As reported in The Daily Telegraph on Friday, Fittler has concerns with how Maloney has responded to conversations about his defence on the Panthers left edge and is toying with the idea of leaving him out of the side.
Parramatta five-eighth Mitchell Moses is one potential replacement.
Yet after starring against Wests Tigers in Thursday Night Football, Maloney admitted he was “surprised” by talk of his potential demise.
“All the chats I’ve had with Freddy, they’ve been really good,” Maloney said. “And the things we’ve spoken about I’ve been on board with it.
“I’ve talked to Freddy a few times about things in my game ... but there has been no conversations (about attitude). So that talk has surprised me.”
Asked if he deserved to retain his Blues jersey, Maloney continued: “I think so yeah.
“I been there before. Haven’t played too bad.
“But I understand that when you don’t get the job done, you’ve got no right to be there again the next year.
“I’m a big believer in that. You haven’t done the job.
“So we’ll wait and see. They’re saying it’s going to be picked on form so hopefully my form is good enough.”
Incredibly, the headlines come only a month after Fittler, when quizzed on selections at an Origin media call, said of Maloney: “He’s the only name I can say with any confidence”.
Asked if the Blues coach was perhaps now trying to steel him for this latest campaign, the Panthers star continued: “I really don’t know
“I’ve been a little surprised by the talk but it’s not something I’m getting too bogged down in. I don’t have time.
“As soon as I start worrying about what might happen in a few weeks, I’ll lose focus on what I’m meant to be doing here. And here at Penrith is where my focus has to be.
“Everything else is out of my control.
“At the end of the day, Freddy will get the side he wants and that’s how it has to be. If things don’t work out, it will be his head on the chopping block.
“That’s just how footy is.”
Coming into this round, Maloney had missed 62 tackles, or almost double even most other players in the top 10.
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And yet his defence has been questioned for years, right?
“Yep”.
Even, when you were winning premierships.
“Yep”.
So why, suddenly, is it such an issue now?
“Well, as I said, I don’t know what to make of it,’’ Maloney continued. “Everyone is going to have different opinions on how you play.
“All I can do is try to work on the areas they want and hope that when picking the side they see more value in me than someone else.”