James Maloney future update

Catalans Dragons can confirm James Maloney will retire at the end of the 2021 season.

James Maloney, 35, arrived at the club in 2019 from Penrith Panthers and has made 35 appearances for the Dragons.

This season, the halfback has reached 300 career appearances and is currently the top Super League points scorer with 172 points scored so far.

After making his NRL debut for Melbourne in 2009, Maloney joined New Zealand Warriors and led them to the NRL Grand Final in 2011. Success followed Maloney to the Sydney Roosters, where he won the premiership in 2013, and three years later he guided Cronulla Sharks to the club’s first-ever Premiership title. He then signed for the Panthers in 2018.

A proven winner, he also won a World Club Challenge, was part of Australia’s successful campaigns at the 2016 Four Nations and 2017 Rugby League World Cup and guided the Blues to back-to-back State of Origin series victory. Throughout his career, he has registered 241 NRL appearances along with 14 State of Origin games for NSW and four Tests for the Kangaroos.

Maloney was the NRL’s top points scorer in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and is also the number 11 all-time top points scorer in NRL history with 1825 points.

James Maloney hopes to bow out with a trophy: “I’ve had a lot of fun and been very fortunate to have a long career that has given me and my family so many opportunities.

“I’m very grateful to the Dragons for the opportunity to come and play over here and for how they have looked after me and the family in difficult circumstances with everything going on in the world, and I hope that I can repay that by finishing this season lifting the trophy.”

Steve McNamara, the Catalans Dragons head coach, couldn’t speak highly enough of Maloney: “Jimmy will be sorely missed by everyone at the club but we understand and respect his decision to retire after an incredible career.

“His contribution over the last two seasons for the Dragons cannot be overstated and he has a huge desire to now finish the season and his career on a successful note.”