Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
319	319	0	85	7	0	269

In 1951, when Joe Mullaney signed for Rovers from Sharlston Rovers, the club had finished the previous season in 24th position. From then and into the early 1960s, they rose from semi-obscurity to become one of the leading lights in rugby league and this rise was due in no small way to the part played by Mullaney. His half-back combination with another Sharlston product, Don Fox, became probably the most successful in the club's history and was a foundation of Rovers success.

His senior debut at Bradford on 15 August 1953, shortly before his nineteenth birthday, was the start of a highly impressive first season. He played in 36 consecutive matches before missing the Easter Monday clash with Wakefield through injury. He returned the following day and was inspirational in a 15-9 victory over Huddersfield, scoring two brilliant tries. The brilliance and consistency of his play at such an early stage was remarkable and it came as no surprise that at the beginning of his second season, he was selected for Yorkshire against Cumberland in August 1954 and Lancashire in October. He scored in both games and helped Yorkshire to win the County Championship. Further honours should have followed but when he was selected for the British RL XIII against Australasia, but he had to withdraw when he injured his thumb. This was the first of several ill-timed injuries which were to blight his representative career. However, he returned in February 1955 in the same impressive form which led to his appearance for England v Other Nationalities at Wigan: and another appearance for Yorkshire v New Zealand in September.

In 1958/59, he was appointed vice-captain to Don Fox and when Fox was injured in December and was out for the rest of the season, the mantle of responsibility was passed to Mullaney. He responded superbly and in a three-year stint until 1962 he proved to be one of the club's most inspirational and astute leaders. He played one of his most memorable games in the third rouncl RL Cup encounter with St Helens on 21 March 1959, when his two tries and one drop goal figured significantly in a magnificent 20-6 victory in in a repeat of the previous year's 5-0 defeat of the Cup favourites. On both occasions, as in 1955 and 1960, he had to share the disappointment of failing to achieve the Wembley dream at the semi-final stage.

There was compensation, however, on 31 October 1959 when he was presented with the Yorkshire Cup after a thrilling 15-14 win over Hull, the Rovers' first peace-time trophy.  Two weeks later, he led the Rovers in an equally thrilling 23-15 victory over the Australian touring team - their first win over a touring side. 14 tries in that season was his highest season total.

His 41 appearances in 1959/60 and 38 appearances in 1960/61 were commendable, but by 1962 the strain of 301 appearances in nine seasons' football was beginning to take its toll. The arrival of starlet Ivor Lingard presented the first challenge to his position and Mullaney moved into the centre.  Unfortunately, at Widnes on 8 May 1963 he received an arm injury which was to keep him out of action for the whole of the 1963/64 season. This was designated a testimonial season for both Fox and Mullaney in an appropriate joint venture. He did play in the last match of the season, but he then only made two appearances in 1964/65 as he passed on his experience in the reserves. His last match was against St Helens (at home) on 26 September 1964, the club against which he had starred in so many stirring encounters, and he retired at the end of the season.

In ten glorious years, he had contributed to a period where the Rovers had astounded the RL world with their cup exploits and had risen to challenge consistently for league honours. His partnership with Fox provided so many highlights, but individually, Mullaney set an example of sportsmanship which was possibly equalled but never excelled. His skill and leadership helped many players develop as he led by example. In attack, his skill was rapier-like with an exciting change of pace, a very effective hand-off and a speed in seizing the slightest chance; in defence he showed split-second timing which no contemporaries could better. His representative career would undoubtedly have been longer but for injuries, and there really seemed to be no justice in him being deprived of that magical Wembley appearance on so many occasions. His stint for Featherstone deserved it!

 

Biography by Ron Bailey