CRUEL LOSS FOR MALONEY
RETIRING star James Maloney was denied a fairytale finish to his career as his Catalans Dragons went down 12-10 to St Helens in a Super League grand final.
Former NRL stars Kevin Naiqama scored two tries and Lachlan Coote kicked the decisive conversion at Old Trafford as Saints claimed a ninth Super League title.
Maloney gave the Dragons an early lead with a 10thminute penalty.
But Naiqama pierced the Dragons’ defence to ground the ball for St Helens.
Coote extended Saints’ lead with a 22nd-minute penalty before Maloney converted his second penalty.
The Saints failed to defend a high ball and Mike Mcmeeken dotted down. Maloney’s conversion gave Catalans a 10-6 lead.
But Naiqama scored his second try, and Coote’s conversion made it 12-10.