The Toronto Wolfpack have announced theย signing of Reni Maitua, with theย 35-year-old veteran coming out of retirement toย join the club.
Toronto Wolfpack Head Coach Paul Rowley was delighted to welcome on board an important signing of undoubted experience and class for the second time in his coaching career. He said:
"Weโve brought in Reni Maitua out of retirement and we believe he can be a great addition to the squad," saidย Wolfpack Head Coach Paul Rowley.
"Having originally signed him at Leigh, Iโm very happy to bring him in. Thereโs no pressure on Reni, he comes into a strong squad and with him it just gets that little bit stronger.
"We believe a stint with the Wolfpack gives him the perfect amount of time to develop that fire in his belly and I know he canโt wait to get started."
Rowley was excited about what qualities Maitua would naturally bring on the field but was just as positive about the influence he would have on the club off it.
โHe can fill a number of positions and heโs a smart footballer, people will benefit from his presence around the club," he continued.
โHe has a wealth of experience in the game and heโs played for Australia which will put us in a good place both on and off the field.โ
Maitua admitted he was shocked to get another shot to play rugby league but was excited at the opportunity to come back to the sport where he made his name.
โI felt surprise and shock when Paul (Rowley) reached out to me. I asked for 24 hours to think about it but after talking to my family and friends I wasnโt going to pass up the opportunity.
โIโve just finished an eight-week camp and made my professional boxing career debut so I have a different base of fitness.
โI have been retired for over a year but I always wondered if I retired prematurely. Iโm currently seven kilos lighter than when I retired in 2016, purely because of boxing and I hope to play a role both on and off the field for this new venture.
โRegardless of my age, I have a lot of dogfight still in me and I canโt wait to meet my teammates and finish what Paul Rowley had started back in 2016.โ
