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Maitua appeal unlikely as club offers loom
Glenn Jackson | December 8, 2008
RENI MAITUA is considering scrapping plans for an appeal of his sacking by the Bulldogs last week, with three NRL clubs expressing "genuine interest" in the back-rower.
Maitua's manager Sam Ayoub will hold talks with the three clubs today - North Queensland, South Sydney and another Sydney team - while the Bulldogs' decision to press fast forward on plans to buy Queensland Origin lock David Stagg as a replacement for the former Test back-rower would suggest the chances of an appeal are fading.
Bulldogs officials are likely to find out either today or tomorrow whether their courting of Stagg - whose management was contacted swiftly in the wake of the club's decision to terminate Maitua's contract - has been successful.
The club offered Stagg a two-year deal and it is believed Brisbane officials have given an in-principle green light for a release from the final year of his contract.
Today will also be significant for Maitua, who had planned to appeal the Bulldogs' decision to axe him over a missed training session last Monday.
"Reni and I might have to discuss whether we're in a position to do it that early [on Wednesday], even whether we want to do it at all," Ayoub said. "There's no use going down that path if the interest from the other clubs is as serious as it appears to be."
Maitua told the Herald on Saturday the chances of him returning to the Bulldogs, who had urged the NRL to deregister him for next season, were slim even after foreshadowing an appeal. After all, he had sought a release from the club during this season.
Then, Maitua wanted to leave Sydney amid strong interest from the Cowboys but Ayoub said that did not necessarily mean the Townsville club was favourite for his signature now.
"There are a lot of factors that come into play - the strength of the club, their financial capacity, the opportunity to play certain positions," Ayoub said.
Ayoub also said the interest from the NRL did not rule out the prospect of Maitua joining a Super League or even rugby union club. On the contrary, he said it "strengthened it".
Bulldogs officials will rely on their recent signings from Brisbane, hooker Michael Ennis and Ben Hannant, as well as the security of another season under contract, in their attempts to strengthen their negotiations with Stagg, the workaholic Broncos lock.
Stagg was close to leaving the Broncos this year, testing the waters before eventually deciding to take up an option for next season. But the Bulldogs, with more funds available than any club after recent personnel losses, would at least match the Broncos' deal.
Importantly, Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Mulholland yesterday said he had been given instructions to push ahead with plans to entice Stagg even with Maitua's appeal still up in the air.
"[Coach] Kevin Moore thinks this guy fits the bill," Mulholland said. "The style of the bloke would absolutely fit into the culture of the Bulldogs. He was a very well-respected player in Brisbane. In this day and age, those guys who make 40 tackles and 20 hit-ups are vital."
Glenn Jackson | December 8, 2008
RENI MAITUA is considering scrapping plans for an appeal of his sacking by the Bulldogs last week, with three NRL clubs expressing "genuine interest" in the back-rower.
Maitua's manager Sam Ayoub will hold talks with the three clubs today - North Queensland, South Sydney and another Sydney team - while the Bulldogs' decision to press fast forward on plans to buy Queensland Origin lock David Stagg as a replacement for the former Test back-rower would suggest the chances of an appeal are fading.
Bulldogs officials are likely to find out either today or tomorrow whether their courting of Stagg - whose management was contacted swiftly in the wake of the club's decision to terminate Maitua's contract - has been successful.
The club offered Stagg a two-year deal and it is believed Brisbane officials have given an in-principle green light for a release from the final year of his contract.
Today will also be significant for Maitua, who had planned to appeal the Bulldogs' decision to axe him over a missed training session last Monday.
"Reni and I might have to discuss whether we're in a position to do it that early [on Wednesday], even whether we want to do it at all," Ayoub said. "There's no use going down that path if the interest from the other clubs is as serious as it appears to be."
Maitua told the Herald on Saturday the chances of him returning to the Bulldogs, who had urged the NRL to deregister him for next season, were slim even after foreshadowing an appeal. After all, he had sought a release from the club during this season.
Then, Maitua wanted to leave Sydney amid strong interest from the Cowboys but Ayoub said that did not necessarily mean the Townsville club was favourite for his signature now.
"There are a lot of factors that come into play - the strength of the club, their financial capacity, the opportunity to play certain positions," Ayoub said.
Ayoub also said the interest from the NRL did not rule out the prospect of Maitua joining a Super League or even rugby union club. On the contrary, he said it "strengthened it".
Bulldogs officials will rely on their recent signings from Brisbane, hooker Michael Ennis and Ben Hannant, as well as the security of another season under contract, in their attempts to strengthen their negotiations with Stagg, the workaholic Broncos lock.
Stagg was close to leaving the Broncos this year, testing the waters before eventually deciding to take up an option for next season. But the Bulldogs, with more funds available than any club after recent personnel losses, would at least match the Broncos' deal.
Importantly, Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Mulholland yesterday said he had been given instructions to push ahead with plans to entice Stagg even with Maitua's appeal still up in the air.
"[Coach] Kevin Moore thinks this guy fits the bill," Mulholland said. "The style of the bloke would absolutely fit into the culture of the Bulldogs. He was a very well-respected player in Brisbane. In this day and age, those guys who make 40 tackles and 20 hit-ups are vital."
