James Maloney can knock back a few coldies to celebrate his second nomination for The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame.
The former NRL player is now in contention for the greatest prize in Australian sport after losing his coaching job at the North Queensland Cowboys for drink driving.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Talatau Amone is the most recent recipient.
The Frownlow Medal Hall of Fame honours former players and players who received media attention in previous seasons, for similarly scandalous behaviour, and its inductees include Ben Cousins and Julian O’Neill.
Maloney was caught drink driving just before the Cowboys started their finals campaign and was let go by the club. Ironically, his replacement is Chad Townsend, with whom Maloney won a premiership playing for the Sharks in 2016.
The cheeky half now earns his second nomination for the hall of fame. In 2022 he tested positive to cocaine while playing in the French Elite One championship. He was stood down by his club Lezignan and was suspended pending a decision from the country’s anti-doping agency. He returned to Australia to coach at the Cowboys, but seems to have blown that chance as well.
He’ll be pleased to know that booze and blow are both available in large quantities at the Frownlow awards night later this year.
Image: AAP
The Frownlow Medal 