NRL: A game of good halves

New Warriors acquisition James Maloney. Photo / Getty Images

First there was Nathan Fien. Then Grant Rovelli, Michael Witt, and Aaron Heremaia were given a run in the search for the next Stacey Jones.

Others, like Liam Foran, were recruited but never given a chance. Jones himself even agreed to come back this season but he wasn't quite the same dominant player.

Next year, James Maloney could well be entrusted with the No 7 jersey. It's not a name that immediately registers with most league fans - he's played only four NRL matches - but his signing, along with that of the wayward Brett Seymour, loom as two of the most important arguably since Steve Price and Ruben Wiki agreed to bookend the Warriors' scrum in 2005.

Teams can't win a premiership without good halves. You can have the most fearsome pack in the competition but it means little if the halves can't make the ball dance in the opposition's 20m zone.

The Warriors' defence is by no means the worst in the competition and they are among the best in terms of metres made (third), tackle breaks (first) and offloads (third).

The Warriors described Maloney as "promising" in their media release. It's an adjective which has been used countless times. Fans are desperate for a player to deliver on that promise.

"He's a very capable footballer," says Melbourne assistant coach Stephen Kearney. "Given the opportunity and more time, he will develop into a handy acquisition for the Warriors. He's a very determined character, has a good kicking game and a nice pass on him.

"I'm sure he would be a little further up the pecking order if we didn't have a Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Brett Finch and Ryan Hinchcliffe. He hasn't had much of an opportunity with us and he probably deserves more because he's a better player than that. Given time, he will be an asset for the Warriors."

The thing is, Warriors fans don't want to give yet another player time to develop. This year was supposed to be their year - or at least close to it - and they want success.

"Everyone has to be patient," Kearney emphasises. "The fans, club and coaches want results and want them quickly but you have to be mindful of what you are dealing with.

"As the Warriors, and every club, are experiencing, there isn't an influx of talent at halfback. There are not a heap of players coming through. There are only a handful of out-and-out stars and if James was one of them, we wouldn't be letting him go."

Maloney knows he will be under the spotlight when he lands in Auckland but, he says, it comes with the territory of his position.

"I don't know how the New Zealand people will take to me," he says from his base in Melbourne. "It's something I will have to handle when I get there.

"Halfback is a position where a fair bit can rest on your shoulders. It's a fairly dominant role in a side and a lot comes back to you," Maloney says. "That's pretty standard."

The 22-year-old has certainly been in good form for Melbourne's reserve-grade side, the Central Coast Storm, helping them to second on the NSW Cup table.

He's still hopeful of adding to his four NRL games, believing he is next cab off the rank should Cronk or Finch get injured, but he should at least play deep into the season with Central Coast when the Warriors will have already started their hiatus.

Things could have been so much better had Melbourne not snaffled Finch earlier this season after he was released early from his Parramatta deal.

Maloney had left the Eels after two seasons because of limited opportunities and suddenly found the same figure standing in his way.

"When Brett arrived I said, 'look mate, you're killing me by following me around'," Maloney says with a laugh. "[The last couple of seasons] have been frustrating. Every time you get a crack in the top grade, you just have to try to make it worthwhile. It's tough, especially when you know you're capable of playing at that level.

"The opportunity to sign with the Warriors happened pretty quickly. The chance of a full-time NRL spot was a big factor in my decision.

"It's probably the first opportunity to really cement a first-grade spot. When I went to Parramatta and Melbourne, I thought there was an opportunity I could play first grade but that it would be hard to stay in there."

So it has proved. He now has the biggest chance of his career to do that.