- James Maloney sacked by North Queensland Cowboys
- Says he is disappointed in himself over the matter
- Maloney says he has no ill will towards the Cowboys
Cowboys assistant coach James Maloney has spoken out after being sacked by North Queensland following a drink driving charge.
It follows an incident involving police just days out from the Cowboys’ round 27 clash against the Bulldogs in Sydney this weekend.
Maloney was booked for alleged DUI and has cut ties with the club immediately.
Cowboys football boss Michael Luck confirmed Maloney, one of head coach Todd Payten’s key assistants, was terminated on the eve of the NRL finals.
‘James has left our employment,’ Luck told News Corp.
‘It’s an amicable split. It’s a staff member so we won’t be commenting any further.’
Maloney has since confirmed he has left the club and has no ill will towards the Cowboys.
‘It was only a low-range charge, it wasn’t excessively over,’ he told News Corp.
Cowboys assistant coach James Maloney has spoken out after being sacked
It follows an off-field incident involving police (James Maloney is pictured, with wife Jess)
‘The club’s position was that in my role as a leader and in coaching, it wasn’t acceptable.
‘Personally I’m disappointed in myself that my mistake has become a distraction for the club at this time of the year.
‘We’re not in normal jobs unfortunately and things like this are unacceptable in the NRL.’
A premiership winner with the Roosters and Sharks, Maloney joined the Cowboys on a two-year deal last November.
The 37-year-old has worked for the club since returning home at the end of last year after a stint in the UK Super League with Catalans and lower division French rugby league.
In 2022, Maloney was stood down by French club Lezignan after testing positive for cocaine.
Maloney says he has no ill will towards the club and that he is disappointed in himself
Club president Alain Fabre labelled cocaine ‘a scourge throughout society.’
‘No one is out of its reach,’ he said at the time.
‘Unfortunately we can’t be behind all the players to watch over what they’re doing when they’re not at the club.’
Once he returned to Australia, Maloney knocked back a consultancy role at the Roosters before moving his family to Townsville.
Maloney chalked up 247 NRL appearances over 11 seasons at five clubs and also represented NSW and Australia in a decorated career.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk