Maloney ups ante for Origin recall as Panthers revival rolls on
James Maloney sent NSW selectors into a spin, laying down his most significant marker for a State of Origin recall by steering the Panthers to a win over a depleted Roosters as Brad Fittler mulls a side he needs to save the series.
Momentum is building for the 32-year-old to be parachuted into the Blues squad for game two in Perth after Maloney laid on all three tries for Penrith, who breathed life into their season with a third straight win.
And with Fittler's troops having their backs against the wall needing to win in Perth to send the series to a decider back at ANZ Stadium, Maloney's resurgence and experience means he's mounting a compelling case.
Maloney starred alongside NSW halfback and teammate Nathan Cleary, who himself is under the gun with South Sydney No.6 Cody Walker to remain the Blues' scrumbase pair across the Nullarbor. Walker was left out of the Rabbitohs' side which lost to the Knights on Friday night.
But Cleary showed no ill effects of Origin heartbreaker in Brisbane, twice launching himself at Roosters attackers on a near identical patch of grass to save certain tries as the Panthers overcame the premiers 19-10 on Sunday.
Maloney's name is the one which is suddenly right in the frame after he helped set up Viliame Kikau's two tries and kicked deftly for Brent Naden's sealer before kicking a field goal to ice the game.
In between he was barking at teammates and trainers, ranting at referees, hitting as hard as he can muster in defence, giving away penalties and mopping up loose balls.
The Roosters rested NSW Origin stars Latrell Mitchell and Angus Crichton while Luke Keary (concussion), Jake Friend (biceps) and Brett Morris (knee) are still sidelined, a sign of the firepower still to come back into Trent Robinson's arsenal.
But even after Boyd Cordner battled the pain of an ankle complaint and James Tedesco backed up after his stellar display in game one, the tricolours sunk to their third straight loss for the first time since 2016.
Somehow the Panthers are now only two points outside the top eight after their diabolical start to the season, which was christened when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak joined the Bulldogs on Sunday.
It had little effect on Cleary and Maloney, who were back together and often standing on the same side of the ruck.
They had a hand in the opening points, but it was really the returning Kikau who was responsible. The big Fijian angled and then sliced off his left foot to put the Panthers ahead within the opening three minutes.
The beauty about Maloney is that nothing really changes with him. There was more at stake for him this week than last week and the weeks prior to that, but there was still the usual dose of Maloney madness.
Eventually the Roosters made Penrith pay, winger Daniel Tupou squeezing the ball down in the corner after Tedesco's crisp cut-out pass. It was the last points of the half, Siosuia Taukeiaho's last-minute penalty attempt from near the sideline cannoning into the post.
Kikau's second padded Penrith's lead 12 minutes into the second half after Maloney's kick ricocheted back to the hosts' most destructive attacking weapon while Joseph Manu was in the sin bin. But Victor Radley's reply before Manu returned to the field added another twist.
Maloney expertly kicked to set up Naden's first NRL try, the type of poise Fittler would have loved last Wednesday night – and might need in two weeks' time.
PENRITH PANTHERS 19 (Viliame Kikau 2, Brent Naden tries; Nathan Cleary 3 goals; James Maloney field goal) defeated SYDNEY ROOSTERS 10 (Daniel Tupou, Victor Radley tries; Drew Hutchison goal) at Panthers Stadium. Referees: Ben Cummins, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski. Crowd: 16,833.