Star Warriors playmaker James Maloney has rubbished reports he wants to quit the club.
An Australian league publication yesterday reported that Maloney had requested a release on compassionate grounds as he wanted to relocate his young family to Sydney - something the goal-kicking five-eighth denied.
Maloney has played 34 games since joining the Warriors from Melbourne Storm last season, scoring 14 tries and notching 273 points.
He recently signed an extension that will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2012.
"Na, mate," Maloney said when asked if he had requested a release during recent negotiations.
"We spoke about whether they were going to keep me and what was available because there was some [outside] interest. But I was never hunting a release.
"As soon as they took the option up, that was it. I'm here for another year and happy to be here."
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah strenuously denied the 24-year-old had attempted to quit the club.
"He has never asked for a release on compassionate grounds," Scurrah said. "He has signed his contract for next year and we have indicated a desire to keep him here [long term] and extend his contract.
"He has made great progress at the club. It has worked well for him and worked well for us. We'd love him to stay here."
The Sharks, however, appear to be quite literally circling. According to the report in Rugby League Week, both Cronulla and South Sydney are courting Maloney.
Scurrah expressed annoyance other clubs might be encouraging Maloney to break his contract.
"If that was true I think we would be concerned about that," Scurrah said. "I don't think our club or the NRL would look favourably upon any club inducing players to break contracts."
Maloney said a quote in the magazine appearing to confirm his desire to return to Sydney had been used out of context.
"There are times when you think it would be a bit easier back home with family around," he said. "But everyone at the club has been awesome, all of the players' partners are great and I get on with the boys great. There is definitely no bad blood or anything.
"There were options for me to go home but at the end of the day we are settled and happy over here. There was no dramas with [the club] taking up the option year."
While he would certainly consider a move back to Sydney when his contract expires, Maloney insisted he hadn't ruled out staying at the Warriors long-term. "Maybe the Warriors will look to extend, I don't know. I think there are negotiations regarding that at the moment.
"It will come down to what's available and what is the best thing to do with the family.
"But like I said to the club when I first come over here, it was never going to be a permanent move. When we go back is not the issue but at some stage we will always be going back."
Scurrah confirmed the club had entered preliminary discussions over a long-term extension for Maloney.
"We met with his agent [Wayne Beavis] recently in Australia and we also indicated directly to James that we would love him to stay at the club on the longer term."
A four-game rookie when he signed with the Warriors, Maloney will command a hefty salary increase when he is next on the market.
The likelihood of a significant increase to salary cap for 2012 and beyond following the completion of the NRL's next broadcasting rights deal could push his price even higher. However, Maloney said the cap situation wouldn't delay any negotiations.
"There are loads of ways around that. That is not the way I'm thinking. To an extent you never know what is going to go on in 12 months time. I could be playing like shit and no one wants me."
That, however, seems extremely unlikely.
