James Maloney.......

[Gary Worthless]

I would have preferred we went for Carlos Tuimavave but in reality to get rid of a 31 year old and replace him with a 21 year old is probably not the smartest move. You also have to consider that Mini will be gone by this stage and the oldest and most experienced player left (so long as he is re-signed) is Perrett at 26. Next would be Mitch Aubusson at 24. That is one extremely young side and to get a premiership with a team that yound would be unheard of.

If we have signed him and he continues his good form its a pretty good move I think. He'll have one of the best forward packs in the comp rolling him forward and we've seen what he can do with that.

He does have more flair than most people give him credit for and he was extremely consistent this year.

Hopefully Pearce develops his attacking game and short kicking more next year, and I think once Maloney arrives we'll see Pearce running a bit more cos he'll know that if he gets tackled there is a competent kicking option to cover for him. Maloney's support play will also suit Pearce's running game cos he's big on offloading in the line towards the centre of the field.

What I've like to see more than anything this year is a few more set plays from us this year cos I think this is where Pearce excels. I was watching a old game from 08 the other day (vs Panthers) and some of the set plays freddy put together for those guys were very clever. When you have slow outside backs and a slow fullback you're best chance is from a set play. Not many teams venture away from simple block/sweep plays, out-in plays, and the odd dummy half wedge variation. It's getting bloody boring!!! I've seen the Panthers put together some nice set plays in recent years so maybe Elliot will bring a bit of that to the table.

If Matt Elliott can get the Roosters to run one set-play in 2012 then he will have earned his money right there. I watched every game in 2011 and am struggling to remember one.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

The way I heard it this morning it sounded like (if he was coming) it would be from 2012.

[Yak]

I remember being frustrated most games that they set up for a wide block play to the right, only to draw the centre into the decoy and give it to him every time. SKD is close to the best centre in the world when he has room between him and the defender close to the line and they would always hold off giving him the ball. I think it stems from having Mini at fullback. He has a poor passing game and is not fast enough to threaten the line himself after receiving on a sweep play, which means the centre can trust his inside man to cover.

There was one beautiful play that they pulled off against the Panthers where Pearce went across field showing to runners inside with Braith the block runner and Tupou the sweeper receiving the deep ball. As soon as he caught it he pops it outside with a no-look to a hidden Mini as the second sweeper out the back. The centre had come in on Tupou and his winger still had a centre and winger to cover for not including Mini. He went in untouched. Freddy may seem like he has no brain but my god can he teach a set play. We're not alone though. The Raiders (with Campese) are the only team that get adventurous with set plays. It's not exactly rocket science and it sure does make more sense that a simple spread.

[Geohood]

Despite our tries from kicks in 08 it was very enjoyable watching our set plays... I remember that one Yak was a beauty.. Was Mini's return game I think and killed it, that set piece was like clockwork. We had that one with Anasta sweeping around the decoy runner which worked so many times, as well as playing the short man (Soliola)... I also remember one where the dummy half picks it up close to the line and we have decoys going everywhere, then he disregards them all and spirals a ball out wide to a massive overlap... Might go back through old videos tomorrow and check them out lol

[Yak]

Yeah Amos scored a nice try against the Titans that year off another block play variation where Anasta was the deep receiver and turns it back underneath to his centre and that man passes inside to Amos wedging in at 100 miles an hour behind Anasta's defender. Sure they take practice but it would net us a lot more tries than what we're doing now. I've taught the plays to my oztag team and man the more complex ones feel special when the timing is right and they come off.

[Guest]

Yeah, no handstands from me :/
Keep with the development of the kids.
A bit like getting a newborn pup & training it the way you want it to behave, rather than try to re-train an animal with some bad habits.

Yeah i agree, why sign a half with a great kicking and running game, i dont get it???

[Guest]

yeah i agree, why sign a half with a great kicking and running game, i dont get it???

this!

[Rooster_6]

Yeah i agree, why sign a half with a great kicking and running game, i dont get it???

Because we could possibly be paying him twice what he's worth.

[chook 56]

Because we could possibly be paying him twice what he's worth.

Correct!

[Billy Gunn]

We are paying the current half twice his value

[Rooster_6]

We are paying the current half twice his value

Which one?

If Pearce then I'm fine with it, just like I'm fine with us paying overs for JWH, Tasi, Kennedy, Moga, Cordner and any other youngster who was offered big dollars from other clubs too.

Maloney will be 26 when he arrives, not really paying for potential there...

[Horry]

Maloney To Leave Vodafone Warriors At End Of 2012 Season


Vodafone Warriors standoff James Maloney today confirmed he won’t be staying with the club beyond 2012.


Off contract at the end of next season, the 25-year-old Maloney has told the Vodafone Warriors he will be continuing his NRL career in Australia from 2013.


While not revealing details about his new contract, Maloney said the decision wasn’t an easy one to reach.


"I owe so much to the Vodafone Warriors," he said.


"They signed me when I had played only a few first-grade games and gave me the opportunity to establish myself in the NRL and to play in the grand final this year.


"I love playing for this club and I’m really looking forward to next season under Bluey (new head coach Brian McClennan).


"The club came up with a great offer but the big issue for us has always been our desire to go back home to Australia so we can be closer to our families and friends.


"There was interest from other clubs but it’s been a really tough decision to make and I know we’ll miss the Vodafone Warriors and all the supporters.


"For now, that can wait. I’m relieved to have it sorted out and now I can just focus on doing all I can for the club next year."


Vodafone Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell said the club was disappointed it was unable to retain Maloney.


"We did all we could to try to keep James but he made it clear family issues were the big factor in his decision," he said.


"Obviously he attracted a lot of interest and he’ll go with our best wishes once the 2012 season is over.


"Fortunately we’ve signed Thomas Leuluai from 2013, giving us a readymade replacement in the halves."


McClennan said while Maloney had now confirmed the 2012 season would be his last with the club, he again had a critical role to play.


"It was a really big decision for Jimmy to make and I respect the way he has gone about it. He has had a lot to consider," he said.


"It’s out of the way which is good because now he can go into the season able to focus on what he needs to do for us.


"I’ve admired the way he has developed since he has come to the Vodafone Warriors. He has become a very good player and there’s still more he can do to help us improve in 2012. I’m really excited about working with him."


Maloney joined the Vodafone Warriors after stints with Parramatta and Melbourne. He failed to win first-grade selection with the Eels and was used only four times by the Storm in 2009. However, he immediately became the first-choice No 6 at Mount Smart Stadium playing 24 of the club’s 25 matches in 2010 and 27 out of 28 this year (the two games he missed were through suspension).


After scoring 188 points in his debut season – the second highest tally in the club’s history – he went better again with 206 points this year, a total of 394 points in 51 games including 20 tries.

[Guest]

I'm calling him leaving New Zealand before the end of the season.

[Gary Worthless]

I'm calling him leaving New Zealand before the end of the season.

I hope so. To Bondi ASAP.

Maloney was great for the Warriors in 2011 and seems to be on the rise.

[Guest]

I hope so. To Bondi ASAP.

Maloney was great for the Warriors in 2011 and seems to be on the rise.

Braith Anasta retires, the 400+K goes straight to James Maloney.