James Maloney ran into Isaac Moses at a chicken store as he was heading back to the Roosters.
James Maloney decided to accept a coaching position with North Queensland instead of joining the Sydney Roosters after having a fortuitous meeting with prominent player agent Isaac Moses at a Penrith chicken shop.
After spending the previous few years enjoying retirement following a final stint with Catalans, Maloney had discussed returning to the club in a part-time capacity with Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
With the Roosters, Maloney, then 37, won the 2013 premiership and continued to enjoy good relations with both Robinson and chairman Nick Politis.
Maloney disclosed that he was assisting his children in adjusting to life in the west when he made a lunch break. It was then that he encountered Moses, who informed him that Cowboys coach Todd Payten—a client of Maloney’s—was searching for a replacement for Dean Young on his staff.
Maloney consented to travel north and exchange the Tricolours for tropical items four days later.
You can only imagine how impressed the Roosters were when Moses unintentionally led the well-liked Maloney to a monster deal with Rugby Australia. Moses upset them earlier this year when he largely left them out of negotiations as Joseph Suaalii signed a monster deal with Rugby Australia.
Maloney emphasised that Moses was not involved in the transaction and that he received any 6.5% “agent’s fee” since he now handles his own business.Maloney and his 2016 Cronulla Premiership halves partner Chad Townsend are also reunited after moving 2000 kilometres north.
Maloney told this masthead that he had inquired about possible coaching positions with Craig Fitzgibbon of Cronulla, Cameron Ciraldo of Canterbury, and Ivan Cleary of Penrith, but that he was always planning to go to the Roosters prior to the last-minute change of plans.
Maloney remarked, “I spoke with Robbo, who had a part-time role for me there.” “He said he had the next best thing for me at the Roosters if I couldn’t find a full-time role elsewhere.
The decision to join the Cowboys was sudden. On a Tuesday, I returned to the country, and by Thursday, we had just completed getting the kids back into school in Penrith, where we were relocating.
I ran into Todd Payten’s caretaker, Isaac Moses, at a chicken shop. “What are you doing?” he asked as I was leaving. “I’m doing some stuff with the Roosters,” I replied. “Toddy is looking for an attack coach up there,” he said.
“I spoke with Toddy over the phone, travelled the next week, and by Friday, I had a job offer.
After I was hired by the Cowboys, I called Robbo. He said that if I had any questions about coaching, he would be more than happy to talk.
Maloney informed his spouse, Jess, that she had already relinquished her life to pursue him as a player, and he would be content to remain in Sydney if she so desired. Beginning in the new year, the couple will spend at least 2024 and 2025 in Townsville with their four children.
Maloney was always regarded by teammates as having one of the sharpest football minds, despite his reputation as a larrikin. This will be extremely helpful for Payten as well as playmakers Townsend and Tom Dearden.
