Eels Blogs

It was the middle of 2009 and Reni Maitua received the news that would change the course of his life and career. He was found to have tested positive the banned substance Clenbuterol. In accordance with WADA regulations he was suspended for 2 years from the game he loved.

An immensley talented player, Maitua signed on with the Bulldogs in 2002 and made his debut against Parramatta in 2004. He made his name as a wide-running back-rower with exceptional ball-playing skills. He formed a formidable combination with teammate and international rugby league sensation Sonny Bill Williams. In his debut season he came off the bench in the Grand Final against the Roosters, which the Bulldogs won.

Living in Bondi, Maitua became a member of the notorious gang, the Bra Boys and his discipline off the field suffered. He had his licence suspended for 18 months in 2006 after being caught over 3 times the legal Blood Alcohol Limit. More problems occurred when, in 2008, he missed training and was subsequently sacked by the Bulldogs.

He was signed by the Sharks but was restricted due to a number of injuries and then the banning in 2009. Maitua's exile was spent getting his life back on track.

Maitua spent a lot of his time out of the game learning Muay Thai boxing in Thailand. He announced his intention to return to the NRL and in 2010 the Eels answered his call, announcing he would return to the NRL in the middle of the 2011 season.

Maitua also left the Bra Boys, sighting them as a major reason in his drop of discipline. Although he had a checkered history and there were questions over whether or not Maitua could be competitive again, these fears were quickly put aside when Maitua returned against Brisbane. Maitua quickly became one of Parramatta's best and most consistent in a disappointing 2011 season for the club. He established himself quickly as a good hole runner and trusty defender.

2012 saw a slight drop in form for Maitua during the worst season the club had seen since 1974. Whilst Maitua has copped some criticism for supposedly being past his best and overrated, he is being considered for the captaincy due to not only his rugby league experience but also his life experience having got through an extremely tough period in his career.

With the retirement of club legend Nathan Hindmarsh, Maitua will have to take up some of the slack left by the veteran. He is also viewed as a senior player and is actually the most experienced player in the Eels' back-row. If he is named captain of Parramatta it will be a complete turn-around for Maitua who, at one point, seriously considered giving the game away.

Expectation will be high on Maitua if he is named given he will be following two club legends in Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless, 2 players who together led the team for over 550 games and led from the front. The same will be expected of Maitua.