PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: James Maloney of the Panthers makes his point to the referee during the round four NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Wests Tigers at Panthers Stadium on April 05, 2019 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Penrith will get an extra $700,000 in their salary cap for next season following James Maloney's departure to French Super League team Catalans.

The NRL veteran signed a two-year contract on Wednesday with a third-year option for the Dragons.

It gives the Panthers flexibility to chase an established star for 2020, meaning the club could set its sights on Tyrone Peachey, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Maloney revealed that he had known for some time he was going to head overseas at the end of the season.

"I've known for the last three or four weeks I'll be pretty much going,'' Maloney said.

"But when we were in that losing rut, I said to Ivan [Cleary], 'I don't know if I can walk away if the season goes to shit'. It would have been hard to go after that.

"He said to me, 'you can't base everything around that'. We're in a different position now and things have turned around. Hopefully, we can go out on a high.

"A big reason I came to Penrith when I did is because I thought there was a really good opportunity to have success out here. I think there still is. I think we're still building and there are things we need to fix and get right.

"There's no doubt we've got the talent to do it. There are a few other sides who have the talent to do it, [but] just having talent doesn't make you win it. We're progressing in the right direction.

"I've always prided myself on being able to leave an imprint on where I've been and leave it in a better state than when I first got there. Most places I've done that. It's no different here. I like to leave on really good terms and I'm sure I will here."

9 COMMENTS

  1. Considering they let go DWZ, Blake and now Maloney to leave surely they have a lot more than 700k to spend. You’d think it would be more like 1.5 M. Not to mention James Tamou will be going off contact the end of next yea. Maybe if they can get rid of another player or two they could make a play for both the Turbo brothers. They could even propose a swap deal with Dylan Edwards and James Tamou

  2. I love ur way of thinking and as a a Panther supporter would love that idea…… but let’s be real….. The Turbo Bros are never going to leave Manly

  3. Another comment about the roosters Stephanie, you need to let the 2018 semis go, your stain was beaten by the superior team/club

  4. The Turbo bros. won’t leave Manly. Even if the money is big. They’ll use the offers from others to make their Manly deal were it should be, but just under the offers of rival clubs. That’s how business is done.

  5. Just curious Franky, can you take a look at how many actual true juniors (not poached juniors) are in the Souths 30 and how many in the roosters 30 when you speak of imports?
    Your point on not giving much credibility to players born and bred in their club’s area might explain why the rooster’s lack or failure to attract members.
    Local juniors are the heart and soul of any NRL club worth its existence which explains Souths powerful membership base on top of their superior achievements in history.
    Its what makes Souths the Pride of the League with local juniors currently playing for several clubs in the NRL.

  6. St.George have the same luxury with Widdop going. The only difference being that Saints have had about 5 months & have signed nothing……..

    No doubt we just wait until the off season & see what scraps become available, e.g. James Graham, Corey Norman etc.

    Pathetic recruitment strategy.

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