With Wednesday night's nail-biting, 26-20 game three victory in the bank Orange-born NSW five-eighth James Maloney said he'll contently fold his Blues jersey away should the epic, series-deciding win be his final State of Origin appearance.
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Maloney, along with fellow Orange product Jack Wighton, helped the Blues overcome a monumental Queensland comeback to secure consecutive series wins for the first time since 2005, but at 33 he's well aware it might have been his swansong too.
That's largely because he's still unsure if he'll be in the NRL next season, or heading overseas to play in the Super League.
"I got asked a few times throughout the week 'what if it's your last game?', and I said 'well, if you go out on back-to-back series wins it's a nice way to go out'," Maloney said after the win, proud in the knowledge he was able to return and help his state claim glory.
"If it does end up like that, I can leave knowing NSW can go through a pretty strong period and hopefully say that I had a little bit to do with it at the beginning."
Maloney remains on contract at Penrith in 2020 but he's left his options open for a move to England, with his focus right now celebrating NSW's win and hopefully guiding his Panthers to a finals berth.
"I've been pretty open at this point and said if a really good offer came up overseas, I'd be silly not to look at it," he said.
"But I'm not at that point yet. I'll enjoy this (series win). I'm really happy that at clubland we're back in the fold now and things have turned the corner and we might have an opportunity this year to be there in the back end.
"That's where I'm at. I've always wanted to finish with a stint overseas."
Although he was magnificent in game two at Perth, Maloney was far from the Blues' best player on Wednesday night, at times being somewhat wasteful with the ball and missing targets occasionally defensively.
But he still brought his typical unflappable composure to the side and was the more dominant figure in the halves as Queensland stunningly fought back from a 12-point deficit to draw level in the dying stages.
In terms of Wighton, the Canberra fullback had limited opportunities with ball in hand but imposed himself defensively and at the back too, diffusing a number of dangerous Queensland kicks with aplomb.
Blues coach Brad Fittler lauded both Orange products' performance in the decider, while his side's victory was undoubtedly led by man-of-the-series James Tedesco and South Sydney hooker Damian Cook.
Fittler focused firmly on his affable five-eighth after the game though, but stood by his decision to select Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker in game one before recalling Maloney at the 11th hour before game two.
"We didn't pick him in the first game for a reason, because at Penrith he was doing nothing, to be fair," Fittler said.
"We love Jimmy but Cody Walker was doing a brilliant job and he was the best five-eighth at the time. Jimmy was always there because you know he doesn't hold a grudge. He just ploughs through every day.
"He came back and did a brilliant job in Perth and he did a brilliant job [on Wednesday].
"He just holds no fear against anyone and that's the way he thinks day-to-day.
"He wins ... he's a winner every day. Whether other people think he is or not, he thinks he is - and that's the main part."
Whether Maloney and Wighton back up for their clubs this weekend remains to be seen, however both have been named for their side's round 17 encounters with Gold Coast and St George respectively.
The Panthers play Friday night while Wighton will have the benefit of a longer turnaround, Canberra take on the Dragons on Sunday.
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