NRL: Top performer primed to take on competition

Warriors halfback James Maloney in action. Photo / Brett Phibbs

From lead violin to possibly second fiddle? James Maloney was arguably the stand out Warrior in 2010 but may face a battle just to make the 13.

A virtual unknown when he signed from the Storm, the 24-year-old became one of the first names on Ivan Cleary's teamsheet last season, forming an impressive combination with Brett Seymour; running the halves while Seymour spent long periods sidelined.

Last season Maloney was the fourth best pointscorer across the NRL, surpassed only by Michael Gordon, Todd Carney and Benji Marshall. He scored 10 tries in 22 games and offered reliable goalkicking (71 goals from 95 attempts; 75 per cent), while only Jamie Soward kicked more drop goals than Maloney.

But the arrival of marquee signing Feleti Mateo and the strong pre-season form of Joel Moon has ramped up the pressure. Krisnan Inu also gives the club an alternative, if slightly less reliable, goalkicking option.

"All the new blokes have been going really well," says Maloney, "and there will be a lot of competition for spots but that is what you need to have a competitive environment in the squad and make everyone play to the best of their ability."

The Australian is a relaxed character and takes a rational approach to the squeeze.

"Whoever is playing the best will get the spot," he says. "If you end up on the bench, your football has probably put you there; so you go back to the drawing board and fix up what you are not doing well. There is no point being worried about it - if I am playing well I should be able to find a place."

Cleary says trial form will decide the fate of the blockbusting Mateo, a genuine line-breaking option who has managed 30 try assists in 80 NRL matches.

"He could be at five-eighth, he could be in the back row, he could be in the middle or on the edge," says Cleary. "Wherever he plays I just want him to play the same way. It will depend on what works best after seeing him play with our guys."

It seems a choice of structure or style. While he is a powerful runner, the unconventional Mateo tends to play off the cuff, and may not possess the range of kicking and pass-ing options of Maloney. The Tongan international has been used more at lock in recent times but feels that his best season was in 2007, when he was employed at five-eighth by Michael Hagan.

"It is important for any new player - no matter what he has done to earn his stripes with his team and get that respect," says Cleary. "They have to put their best foot forward and it is up to me and Tony [Iro] to work out how the team works best. Someone is going to miss out somewhere."

Apart from working on some new ball-playing options and increasing his general involvement, Maloney will be sticking to the same recipe that served him well in2010. He is unconcerned about the supposed 'second season syndrome', where newcomers struggle with opponents who know what to expect.

"If they haven't worked it out over 24 rounds last year, then nothing is going to change this year," laughs Maloney. "There is not a lot of flash to my game - I just do what I do."

Maloney's contract is up at the end of this season, though the club retain the option for a further year.

Meanwhile, senior prop Sam Rapira says his pack can't afford to be physically dominated.

"In the last few years I suppose we have let some teams bully us," admits Rapira. "This year, as a forward pack, the boys want to give it back. We can't let people stand over us."

There is an ongoing perception, often fuelled by the Channel Nine commentators and the rest of the Australian media, that the Warriors pack is made up of 'Godzilla' types. This was perhaps true in earlier times, with giants such as Joe Vagana, Ali Lauiti'iti, Richard Villasanti, Sione Faumuina and Iafeta Palea'aesina but is not the case today - although some big young men are coming through from lower grades.

"When we stand together for a scrum [the opposition] are often a head bigger than us," says Rapira, "We are a bit smaller than everyone else but we have to go that little bit harder; prove to them and prove to ourselves that we can do it. We have that inner belief and it is just a matter of bringing that out."

With Steve Price's retirement, the 23-year-old is now the leader of the muscle gang and is relishing the role.

"I used to be quiet - sitting in the corner and holding back a bit but you get to a point that you have to [come] out of your shell and lead," says Rapira."You realise you have to talk; the more you do it the easier it gets. At the start it was pretty frightening [but] the boys respect you no matter what."