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Source: SMH
BULLDOGS international Reni Maitua has been ruled out for the rest of the NRL season and the World Cup after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction but the club is confident he will be back in blue and white next season.
Maitua, who had been planning to play for Samoa in the World Cup, underwent surgery on Monday night and is expected to be out of action for four months. The operation coincided with fresh speculation linking the former Australian Test lock to a move to North Queensland next season but Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said he was confident Maitua would see out the remaining year of his contract with the club.
"He's contracted for next year," Greenberg said. "I've had some discussions with Reni and I know he was very disappointed by the Sonny Bill [Williams] thing but he said he was looking forward to next year."
Maitua, whose season has been limited to just 14 matches because of injury and disciplinary issues, had previously sought permission to explore other opportunities but Bulldogs officials believed his frustrations were largely due the fact he wasn't playing.
The Cowboys, who have already snared Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga on a three-year deal, are understood to be operating below the salary cap this season and have further money to spend following the departure of forwards Jacob Lillyman, Ray Cashmere, Sione Faumuina and David Faiumu.
Melbourne prop Antonio Kaufusi is believed to be another player targeted by North Queensland and it is understood the Storm would be prepared to release the former Kangaroos representative to help alleviate salary cap pressure. But Kaufusi has also been linked to South Sydney and Parramatta as a replacement for prop Fuifui Moimoi if he decides to take up an offer to go to England.
Tigers captain Brett Hodgson (calf) returns for Monday night's clash with the Eels after a month on the sidelines. And the Bulldogs will blood a sixth debutant this season against Penrith, with 23-year-old Reece Blayney named on the bench in place of Aaron Groom (hamstring).
Edited as most of it had nothing to do with the Bulldogs....
BULLDOGS international Reni Maitua has been ruled out for the rest of the NRL season and the World Cup after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction but the club is confident he will be back in blue and white next season.
Maitua, who had been planning to play for Samoa in the World Cup, underwent surgery on Monday night and is expected to be out of action for four months. The operation coincided with fresh speculation linking the former Australian Test lock to a move to North Queensland next season but Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said he was confident Maitua would see out the remaining year of his contract with the club.
"He's contracted for next year," Greenberg said. "I've had some discussions with Reni and I know he was very disappointed by the Sonny Bill [Williams] thing but he said he was looking forward to next year."
Maitua, whose season has been limited to just 14 matches because of injury and disciplinary issues, had previously sought permission to explore other opportunities but Bulldogs officials believed his frustrations were largely due the fact he wasn't playing.
The Cowboys, who have already snared Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga on a three-year deal, are understood to be operating below the salary cap this season and have further money to spend following the departure of forwards Jacob Lillyman, Ray Cashmere, Sione Faumuina and David Faiumu.
Melbourne prop Antonio Kaufusi is believed to be another player targeted by North Queensland and it is understood the Storm would be prepared to release the former Kangaroos representative to help alleviate salary cap pressure. But Kaufusi has also been linked to South Sydney and Parramatta as a replacement for prop Fuifui Moimoi if he decides to take up an offer to go to England.
Tigers captain Brett Hodgson (calf) returns for Monday night's clash with the Eels after a month on the sidelines. And the Bulldogs will blood a sixth debutant this season against Penrith, with 23-year-old Reece Blayney named on the bench in place of Aaron Groom (hamstring).
Edited as most of it had nothing to do with the Bulldogs....
