South Sydney Rabbitohs swoop on Blackhawks star Cade Maloney as Townsville turf war intensifies

South Sydney has drawn first blood in rugby league’s Townsville turf war, signing a key Blackhawks star to his first NRL contract. Find out how the rare opportunity came about.

Cade Maloney, with son Lenny, 18 months, will be the first Townsville Blackhawk to sign with the South Sydney Rabbitohs under the club's landmark agreement with the QRL club. Picture: Evan Morgan

South Sydney has drawn first blood in rugby league’s Townsville turf war, signing Blackhawks MVP Cade Maloney to his first NRL contract after six years on the doorstep of the Cowboys.

The prop forward will fly to Sydney on Saturday to join the Rabbitohs for pre-season, in his first taste of an NRL system since under-20s stints with Brisbane and Gold Coast.

South Sydney’s Top 30 is finalised for 2024 but the club has proven its willingness to reach outside its NRL squad for talent when required.

Trent Peoples and Shaquai Mitchell made their first grade debuts for the Rabbitohs from outside the Top 30 in back-to-back seasons.

Maloney, 28, is determined to prove he is the man to continue that streak into 2024.

“It is possible,” Rabbitohs operations chief Brock Schaefer said.

Cade Maloney has become the first Townsville Blackhawk to sign with the South Sydney Rabbitohs under the club's landmark agreement with the QRL club. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The way the CBA works now, players can be picked straight out of Cup footy to play NRL. We’ve done that twice in recent years with guys making their debuts on state league contracts. If you’re the best player for that jersey you’re going to earn it by doing your job in state league.

“Cade will get that crack, as will anyone else pulling on a Blackhawks jersey or similar in the New South Wales Cup.”

Maloney was crowned Townsville’s finest player of 2023 ahead of a raft of full-time Cowboys in a season plagued by dysfunction.

Blackhawks' Cade Maloney in action against Ipswich. Picture: Evan Morgan

He averaged 120m per game and tackled at a 94.75 per cent efficiency, becoming the sixth forward to play 50 games for Townsville since its 2015 formation in the process.

The prop said he had never given up on his NRL dream and was ready to pay back the Rabbitohs’ faith in him.

“I’m very excited,” Maloney said.

“It’s a huge opportunity for me because I haven’t been in a (senior) NRL system before. There’s a huge amount of work ahead of me but all I can do is train my heart out for five months, see what happens.”

Maloney’s former Blackhawks teammate Jonathan Reuben became the NRL’s oldest debutant in 2023, aged 29 years and 92 days.

Dragons debutant Jonathan Reuben was a teammate of Maloney’s in Townsville. Picture: Zak Simmonds

This shot with South Sydney has brought Maloney’s desire to follow in Reuben’s footsteps into sharp focus.

“After my performances this year and still not getting a call from the Cowboys, not even a train-and-trial offer, I thought maybe that was it for me (in the NRL),” Maloney revealed.

“I was just going to stay here and focus on the Blackhawks when this opportunity came up with the Rabbitohs.”

Half the Maloney clan have already traded their allegiances to the Rabbitohs in support of Cade, he said.

Cade Maloney, with son Lenny, 18 months, will be the first Townsville Blackhawk to sign with the South Sydney Rabbitohs under the club's landmark agreement with the QRL club. Picture: Evan Morgan

The 28-year-old was days away from completing his electrician’s apprenticeship with Horan & Bird Energy in Hermit Park when his big break with South Sydney arrived, two weeks before he was expected to touch down in Redfern.

His employers told him to leap at the opportunity.

“They were super supportive,” Maloney said.

“Said you won’t get this opportunity again and there would always be a spot for me when I get back.

“I was meant to do my last block on November 30 and I would have been a qualified tradesman but I’m pushing it back another six months to do this.”

Maloney will leave partner Shalise and their 18-month-old son Lenny in Townsville.

“It will be tough. That’s what I’ve been thinking about the most because Shalise will understand but Lenny doesn’t,” he said.

“The longest I’ve been away from home since he was born was two days, so it’s going to be tough, but FaceTime exists so he can still see me every day.

“They’ve allowed me to go down and chase my dreams. They’re my motivation and I want to show Lenny that opportunities are going come late in life and you’ve just got to go for them.”

Originally published as South Sydney Rabbitohs swoop on Blackhawks star Cade Maloney as Townsville turf war intensifies