Trouble in the halves...

[stsae]

Perhaps the Mitchell Pearce incident was the excuse to drop a horribly out of form James Maloney but with no goal kicker in the team then Trent Hodgkinson at halfback was the logical choice as he is a goal kicker and the halves partner of Josh Reynolds and in the end the poor form of James Maloney cost himself and Mitchell Pearce a spot in the Blues squad. Laurie Daley could quite easily have played Maloney and Reynolds in the halves as Pearce is not a goal kicker but the "combination" excuse gave him the out he required after foolishly backing his incumbent halves in public.

James Maloney quite frankly did less than Jamie Soward and Todd Carney in the previous series' and they were both dropped from the team. It is not unfair to suggest that Maloney deserved the fate but his goal kicking was a sticking point in such a decision.

I reiterate the point that had Maloney's own form been a lot better he would have stayed in the squad regardless of the Pearce incident.

This.

I do no believe that It does not back you up at all. James Maloney quite simply did not deserve selection based on his own club football form.

And This.

[stsae]

Um I think last season they were both picked on form and the fact they play in the halves for the same club Maybe you see it differently

So basically youre saying last year the side was picked on form but this season picked cos they play for the same club???

[mightyrooster]

Perhaps the Mitchell Pearce incident was the excuse to drop a horribly out of form James Maloney but with no goal kicker in the team then Trent Hodgkinson at halfback was the logical choice as he is a goal kicker and the halves partner of Josh Reynolds and in the end the poor form of James Maloney cost himself and Mitchell Pearce a spot in the Blues squad. Laurie Daley could quite easily have played Maloney and Reynolds in the halves as Pearce is not a goal kicker but the "combination" excuse gave him the out he required after foolishly backing his incumbent halves in public.

James Maloney quite frankly did less than Jamie Soward and Todd Carney in the previous series' and they were both dropped from the team. It is not unfair to suggest that Maloney deserved the fate but his goal kicking was a sticking point in such a decision.

I reiterate the point that had Maloney's own form been a lot better he would have stayed in the squad regardless of the Pearce incident.

Great post as usual BAW.

[Andrew Walker]

So basically youre saying last year the side was picked on form but this season picked cos they play for the same club???

Not quite But I can see how you try and twist in onto that

[bondi-boy]

I'm told by a reliable source that one of our biggest problems right now is the fact that there is trouble in the halves. So the story goes, Pearce and Maloney have fallen out due to the ramifications of the "big night out" in Cloey/the Cross...

I think, if you objectively look at the way the team has played especially in recent weeks, you would have to say that the combination between Pearce and Maloney is nothing like what it was in 2012.

Maloney only arrived at the Roosters in 2013?

[stsae]

Not quite But I can see how you try and twist in onto that

With your eyes or with your breath, do you see it???

Or maybe cos that's what you said???

[Johnny.]

Maloney only arrived at the Roosters in 2013?

Dave Evans just pooch screwed.

[Guest]

Maloney only arrived at the Roosters in 2013?

Typo mate.