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Maloney steers Catalans' stroll vs Salford

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James Maloney steered Catalans Dragons to a win with his penalty and seven conversions.
Camera IconJames Maloney steered Catalans Dragons to a win with his penalty and seven conversions. Credit: AAP

Catalans have cantered to their third Super League victory of the season, beating a sorry-looking Salford 42-6 in Perpignan with Australian standoff James Maloney pulling the strings.

The first team to travel to France since the COVID-19 chaos of 2020, Salford hit the ground flat-footed against a powerful Catalans team, who were playing on home turf at Stade Gilbert Brutus for the first time since last October.

The Dragons were too fast and too strong and four straight wins in league and cup have put a spring in the step of Steve McNamara's side.

A second-half hat-trick for French winger Fouad Yaha and a brilliant goal-kicking performance by Maloney, who booted six conversions and a penalty, destroyed the Red Devils.

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The 34-year-old Maloney, who played for Melbourne Storm, New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers in a distinguished NRL career, showed he's still a force to be reckoned with this season as he failed with only one of his kicks.

Catalans captain Ben Garcia opened the scoring by forcing his way between the posts in the 12th minute, then one-time Sydney Rooster centre Samisoni Langi crossed in the left corner after Sam Tomkins split the Salford defence on halfway.

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Maloney added a penalty after 27 minutes and the Dragons were 14-0 ahead.

Three minutes later, Josh Drinkwater powered over, Maloney's conversion making it 20-0 and it was more of the same in the second half as Yaha went over in the left corner, Maloney's touchline conversion making it 26-0.

After Yaha ended with a treble, Maloney missed his only conversion of the evening from the touchline.

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