NRL finals: Andrew Johns targets James Maloney's defence during semi final

Angus Reid

NRL finals: Andrew Johns targets James Maloney's defence during semi final image

Immortal Andrew Johns isn't known to hold back, and the legend was scathing when describing James Maloney's defensive efforts on Friday night.

In the do-or-die semi final between the Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers, the men in the black, white and blue stormed through the opening half to lead 18-2.

The 2016 premiers scored three tries in the first 40 behind Chad Townsend, Valentine Holmes and Luke Lewis, and it was the final four-pointer to the retiring veteran that put a bee in Johns' bonnet.

With the Sharks attacking yet again while leading 14-0, former Panthers skipper Matt Moylan shifted across the right side of the field with the ball in hand.

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With Luke Lewis sitting on his right shoulder, the playmaker found his big forward and Lewis simply ran though Maloney's attempted tackle.

The 35-year-old burst through the line and ran 30 metres to score a fantastic try.

Joey wasn't impressed.

"At this level, in this game, to miss a tackle and not get a hand on Luke Lewis, that's terrible," Johns said on Channel Nine's coverage of the match.

"There's no organisation on that edge, and that comes down to Maloney.

"He has to organise his edge, and as you can see, his head goes down (when Lewis passes him).

"Maloney's got to organise his inside men and his outside men, nominate who they've got.

"No organisation defensively there, it's terrible."

What the incident in the video below.


 

Angus Reid

Angus Reid Photo