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IT has been three years in the making, but Reni Maitua has returned to Belmore for the first time since leaving Canterbury.
Maitua distanced himself from the Bulldogs because he felt the club had “lost its identity” in recent seasons.
Despite the dissatisfaction, he never lost passion for the blue and whites where he played 113 games and won a premiership in 2004.
It’s why Maitua jumped at the chance to rejoin his beloved Dogs when new coach Dean Pay contacted him two weeks ago.
“I was over the moon and it is fantastic to be back around the club,” Maitua told The Daily Telegraph.
“In previous years I kept my distance and watched from a far. I didn’t feel like I wanted to be involved or a part of the club given where it was at.
Reni Maitua has returned to Belmore to help his former club rebuild in 2018.
“I was at the club in 2014 and my comments have been pretty public that I felt it was a lot different going back there.
“But being back at Belmore the other day there was a really good feeling around the club.
“It was like the old days walking around the gym and seeing murals of the old players as people being recognised for wearing the jersey.
“There are also statistics with each player’s accomplishments at the club and in representative football.
“I think it’s something the young players can look up at while they are in the gym and aspire to.”
Maitua credits Canterbury’s culture shift to Pay.
He believes the uncompromising former prop who let his actions do the talking is the perfect coach to bring back the old bite to Belmore.
“It was really refreshing chatting to Dean about what he expected and wanted from the club,” he said.
Reni Maitua in action during his playing days for the Bulldogs. Picture: Phil Hillyard
“He said regardless of the results this year, he just wants other teams to know they’ve played against the Bulldogs when they walk off the field.
“That comment really sat strongly with me and I thought that is a fantastic way to look at things.
“I got to see him play and he was one of my favourite players. He was never one of the biggest players, but the way he defended and his aggression.
“He would just go about his business in a way you respected and I think he’ll bring that same focus and mentality into the current squad.
“Dean has introduced his own system and I know the players are getting absolutely flogged, but they are enjoying it.”
The current crop of Bulldogs are also relishing the chance to have more club legends around training.
This was on display last weekend when a number of players hired a mini bus to drive to Gosford to watch the likes of Willie Mason and Brett Kimmorley win the Legends of League tournament.
Newly appointed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs coach Dean Pay has already had a positive impact on club culture.
Maitua was also in the team, which defeated Newcastle in the final.
“The most pleasing thing for us as old boys was the fact the current players made the effort to come and watch us play,” he said.
“They came and spent time with us in the dressing room. That gave us older guys a real buzz that the younger fellas should the respect to come and watch us play.”
Premiership-winning captain Andrew Ryan also played in the club’s Legend of League team and is loving Canterbury’s reconnection with the past under Pay.
“I’ve been back to Belmore a lot in the last month — it has been unreal,” Ryan said.
“Dean wants us former players around, whether it be at games, training or in the dressing shed and that they are comfortable doing so.
“They have really turned back the clock in that sense.”
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...b/news-story/9f90fc4771998cd46329732ea4d4b42d
Maitua distanced himself from the Bulldogs because he felt the club had “lost its identity” in recent seasons.
Despite the dissatisfaction, he never lost passion for the blue and whites where he played 113 games and won a premiership in 2004.
It’s why Maitua jumped at the chance to rejoin his beloved Dogs when new coach Dean Pay contacted him two weeks ago.
“I was over the moon and it is fantastic to be back around the club,” Maitua told The Daily Telegraph.
“In previous years I kept my distance and watched from a far. I didn’t feel like I wanted to be involved or a part of the club given where it was at.
Reni Maitua has returned to Belmore to help his former club rebuild in 2018.
“I was at the club in 2014 and my comments have been pretty public that I felt it was a lot different going back there.
“But being back at Belmore the other day there was a really good feeling around the club.
“It was like the old days walking around the gym and seeing murals of the old players as people being recognised for wearing the jersey.
“There are also statistics with each player’s accomplishments at the club and in representative football.
“I think it’s something the young players can look up at while they are in the gym and aspire to.”
Maitua credits Canterbury’s culture shift to Pay.
He believes the uncompromising former prop who let his actions do the talking is the perfect coach to bring back the old bite to Belmore.
“It was really refreshing chatting to Dean about what he expected and wanted from the club,” he said.
Reni Maitua in action during his playing days for the Bulldogs. Picture: Phil Hillyard
“He said regardless of the results this year, he just wants other teams to know they’ve played against the Bulldogs when they walk off the field.
“That comment really sat strongly with me and I thought that is a fantastic way to look at things.
“I got to see him play and he was one of my favourite players. He was never one of the biggest players, but the way he defended and his aggression.
“He would just go about his business in a way you respected and I think he’ll bring that same focus and mentality into the current squad.
“Dean has introduced his own system and I know the players are getting absolutely flogged, but they are enjoying it.”
The current crop of Bulldogs are also relishing the chance to have more club legends around training.
This was on display last weekend when a number of players hired a mini bus to drive to Gosford to watch the likes of Willie Mason and Brett Kimmorley win the Legends of League tournament.
Newly appointed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs coach Dean Pay has already had a positive impact on club culture.
Maitua was also in the team, which defeated Newcastle in the final.
“The most pleasing thing for us as old boys was the fact the current players made the effort to come and watch us play,” he said.
“They came and spent time with us in the dressing room. That gave us older guys a real buzz that the younger fellas should the respect to come and watch us play.”
Premiership-winning captain Andrew Ryan also played in the club’s Legend of League team and is loving Canterbury’s reconnection with the past under Pay.
“I’ve been back to Belmore a lot in the last month — it has been unreal,” Ryan said.
“Dean wants us former players around, whether it be at games, training or in the dressing shed and that they are comfortable doing so.
“They have really turned back the clock in that sense.”
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...b/news-story/9f90fc4771998cd46329732ea4d4b42d