Reni Maitua

Reni Maitua (born 11 June 1982) is a former professional rugby league footballer.

Maitua signed with Sydney's Canterbury-Bankstown club in 2002, spending the first two years representing the Jersey Flegg U20 & reserve grade sides alongside future stars Johnathan Thurston & Sonny Bill Williams winning the 2003 Jersey Flegg Cup Premiership.

An Australian and Samoan International representative player, he previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership.

Maitua covered a number of positions, known for typically playing on an edge as a backrow forward (second row or lock) or centre, Maitua's skillset saw him play in the halves as well.

Reni Maitua was born in Sydney, New South Wales.

He attended Daceyville Public School.

Maitua started playing rugby league as a youngster from the encouragement of his parents, playing for both the Coogee Randwick Wombats, and Kensington United as well as brief stints at La Perouse United, and the Maroubra Lions.

Maitua then played for South Sydney Juniors which form part of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Maitua is the son of a Samoan father and an Australian mother.

As a South Sydney junior, a young Maitua had aspirations to represent the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the highest level, however, this was soured by the club as he was dropped from a Harold Matthews Cup squad on the premise of him being a year young for the state under-16s competition.

Despite the success in the lower grades, Maitua did not make his first grade début until Round 1 of the 2004 NRL season against the Parramatta Eels on 13 March.

Maitua played for Canterbury-Bankstown from the interchange bench in their 2004 NRL grand final victory over cross-town rivals, the Sydney Roosters.

As 2004 NRL premiers, the Canterbury club faced Super League IX champions, the Leeds Rhinos in the 2005 World Club Challenge.

Maitua played at second-row forward in the Bulldogs' 32–39 loss.

In season 2005, Maitua had an up and down season, suffering an ankle injury in the trial game against South Sydney Rabbitohs missing up to six games.

His return showed he was in good form and was then named in the City Origin squad.

But during that game he also suffered another ankle injury which made him sit on the sidelines for nearly half the competition.

Maitua had been selected in the Prime Minister's XIII team to take on Papua New Guinea national rugby league team.

On 27 April 2006, it was revealed that Maitua had been charged with drink driving.

Canterbury-Bankstown fined Maitua $15,000 over the incident as well as dropping him to Premier League for one week.

Maitua was also required to attend an alcohol awareness program and to participate in a community service program.

He was also needed to appear in Sutherland Local Court on 18 May where a plea of guilty was entered on his behalf.

He will be required to make a personal appearance for sentencing on 3 August.

In the meantime, his licence is suspended and the court was told that Maitua will complete a traffic offenders education program before his sentencing.

But his sentencing was postponed till 17 August because complications arose as Reni's lawyer advised him not to attend the court appearance on 3 August.

Though he appeared at his second court appearance for the sentencing the judge ruled that his licence was to be suspended for 18 months and a fine of $2800.

Maitua had been named in the Australian Rugby League team for the Tri Nations series for the first time in his career after a knee injury ruled Brisbane forward Tonie Carroll out of the upcoming Tri-Nations tournament.

His short international career came to a grinding halt after suffering a distal syndesmosis injury to his ankle in the closing stages of the 30–18 victory over New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium.

In March 2008, Maitua was demoted to reserve grade after he was spotted in a drunken state at a T2 nightclub on Oxford Street, Sydney at 9.30am on a Sunday morning.

On 15 June 2009, Maitua was suspended for 2 years for testing positive to a banned substance.

He signed with the Parramatta Eels on return from suspension for the 2011 NRL season.

Maitua signed with Parramatta in 2011 but was unable to play until his ban ended in May.

He was also a member of the 2012 & 2013 teams which collected the wooden spoon.

Due to his good form, inspirational leadership and a new outlook on life, he was made co-captain of the Parramatta club alongside Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah in 2013.

In June 2013, Maitua was one of 12 Parramatta players that were told that their futures at the club were uncertain by coach, Ricky Stuart.

In October 2013, Reni was a part of the Samoan team that participated in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

He made his début in the Samoans' impressive display against the Kiwis.

Hasler has confirmed Tooty will add depth to Canterbury-Bankstown in 2014.

He would bring experience to the Canterbury team.

At the end of his time with Parramatta Maitua played 53 games and scored 6 tries.