CLUB BLUES CAN’T STOP MALONEY’S ORIGIN BID

JAMES Maloney insists his mind isn’t on his NSW State of Origin jersey as he and Nathan Cleary attempt to turn Penrith’s ailing NRL season around.

The incumbent Blues halves pairing have endured a difficult start to the 2019 season, only beginning to click into gear in the Panthers’ past two losses to the Gold Coast and Cronulla.

Even Blues coach Brad Fittler this month questioned if the balance was right between the pair, or if they had ever been a good halves combination.

Maloney has been the Panthers’ toughest critic this week, lashing them for taking soft options in their losses, but insisted improvements had been made in his on-field relationship with Cleary.

“We’re working on things. There are things we need to do better and there are things we do all right, it’s just a work in progress,” Maloney said.

“Everyone is going to have opinions on it and Freddie (Fittler) is a well-respected opinion and someone who is probably a pretty important opinion, considering we’re both from NSW.”