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Maitua close to making a decision, says manager
Michael Cowley | December 30, 2008
The football future of Reni Maitua is expected to be determined by the weekend, as the former Bulldog has left town for the week to consider which avenue he will take.
Maitua has been searching for a club since being sacked by the Bulldogs on December 3 after missing a training session. Four clubs have shown interest in the 26-year-old back-rower.
Two of those clubs - South Sydney, who have offered him a three-year-deal, and Cronulla, a one-year contract - have formally offered Maitua a lifeline for next year. The other two, North Queensland and Melbourne, have expressed interest but added that salary-cap pressure means they cannot at this time make the former international a firm offer.
"Reni hasn't made his mind up yet," his manager Sam Ayoub said yesterday.
"He's going to get away for a couple of days and come back by the weekend, and between now and then he hopefully will have made his mind up.
"That was the idea of getting away. He's got all the bits and pieces, all the info he needs from the respective clubs, and he can make his decision based on that and we'll go from there.
"There are four [clubs] with interest, two have made offers, and two haven't as yet, but their interest is genuine, it's just a matter of seeing if they can compete. So we're waiting on them at the moment as well. So, realistically, Reni's got some options."
Only last week Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said his club couldn't make Maitua an offer as they were already "under some salary-cap strains", and Melbourne boss Brian Waldron echoed those sentiments yesterday.
"We are not making a late run in a race for him at all," Waldron said. "Like everyone probably, we made some inquiries but we certainly have no intention … there is no room for Reni Maitua to join Melbourne at this stage. I can tell you that.
"As a player, there is some interest but there is no room in our cap for Reni Maitua as we sit here now."
Cronulla chief executive Tony Zappia openly said he had heard no news on the Maitua situation "since before Christmas", while Souths chief executive Shane Richardson was far more abrupt and guarded.
"I've got nothing to say about it, nothing whatsoever," Richardson said.
Souths are believed to be the favourites in the chase for Maitua, not only because of the longevity of the contract they are offering, but also because he is a Souths junior and a close friend of Rabbitohs star John Sutton.
Two weeks ago, Sutton told the Herald he has been trying to convince his mate to accept Souths' offer. "I've spoken to him, trying to get him over to Souths," Sutton said. "It would be good if we can get him. He is good all over the field, and he has won a premiership."
What could play a role in where Maitua goes, and determine whether Melbourne or the Cowboys could squeeze him in under the salary cap, is whether he is able to receive a $100,000 pay-out he was seeking from the Bulldogs, an amount which could bolster any second-tier contract for next season.
Asked where the pay-out issue with the Bulldogs stood, Ayoub said: "Reni's put the matter in the hands of his solicitor."
Michael Cowley | December 30, 2008
The football future of Reni Maitua is expected to be determined by the weekend, as the former Bulldog has left town for the week to consider which avenue he will take.
Maitua has been searching for a club since being sacked by the Bulldogs on December 3 after missing a training session. Four clubs have shown interest in the 26-year-old back-rower.
Two of those clubs - South Sydney, who have offered him a three-year-deal, and Cronulla, a one-year contract - have formally offered Maitua a lifeline for next year. The other two, North Queensland and Melbourne, have expressed interest but added that salary-cap pressure means they cannot at this time make the former international a firm offer.
"Reni hasn't made his mind up yet," his manager Sam Ayoub said yesterday.
"He's going to get away for a couple of days and come back by the weekend, and between now and then he hopefully will have made his mind up.
"That was the idea of getting away. He's got all the bits and pieces, all the info he needs from the respective clubs, and he can make his decision based on that and we'll go from there.
"There are four [clubs] with interest, two have made offers, and two haven't as yet, but their interest is genuine, it's just a matter of seeing if they can compete. So we're waiting on them at the moment as well. So, realistically, Reni's got some options."
Only last week Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said his club couldn't make Maitua an offer as they were already "under some salary-cap strains", and Melbourne boss Brian Waldron echoed those sentiments yesterday.
"We are not making a late run in a race for him at all," Waldron said. "Like everyone probably, we made some inquiries but we certainly have no intention … there is no room for Reni Maitua to join Melbourne at this stage. I can tell you that.
"As a player, there is some interest but there is no room in our cap for Reni Maitua as we sit here now."
Cronulla chief executive Tony Zappia openly said he had heard no news on the Maitua situation "since before Christmas", while Souths chief executive Shane Richardson was far more abrupt and guarded.
"I've got nothing to say about it, nothing whatsoever," Richardson said.
Souths are believed to be the favourites in the chase for Maitua, not only because of the longevity of the contract they are offering, but also because he is a Souths junior and a close friend of Rabbitohs star John Sutton.
Two weeks ago, Sutton told the Herald he has been trying to convince his mate to accept Souths' offer. "I've spoken to him, trying to get him over to Souths," Sutton said. "It would be good if we can get him. He is good all over the field, and he has won a premiership."
What could play a role in where Maitua goes, and determine whether Melbourne or the Cowboys could squeeze him in under the salary cap, is whether he is able to receive a $100,000 pay-out he was seeking from the Bulldogs, an amount which could bolster any second-tier contract for next season.
Asked where the pay-out issue with the Bulldogs stood, Ayoub said: "Reni's put the matter in the hands of his solicitor."
