'Dogs sack absent Maitua - now he wants a payout

[legend]

Ben Roberts will be the next to go and then all the riff raff is gone.

 

[The Colonel]

But what's Maitua done to damage the code, apart from be a troublesome contractor at a club?

I don't know.

Maybe the alleged bashing of a police officer and being caught drink driving three times over the legal limit might have added to his problems of just being a troublesome contractor.

 

[Timmah]

THE Bulldogs yesterday sacked their last surviving playboy, with Reni Maitua following good mates Willie Mason and Sonny Bill Williams in a move that will almost certainly rub him out of the NRL next season.

As Maitua's camp prepared to approach Cronulla offering the lock's services in the wake of his dismissal for repeatedly skipping training, the NRL said it was "unlikely" Maitua would be registered for 2009.


"On the information we have, it would be unlikely that we'd register a contract if another club were to sound (Maitua) out for 2009," NRL boss David Gallop said.
Garth Montgomery: NRL is being too harsh on Maitua




There were allegations last night Maitua had been involved in a brawl on Sunday night involving the notorious Bra Boys - but his manager Sam Ayoub strenuously denied the claims and promised to fight the NRL in court if Maitua was rubbed out of the game.


"You can't go terminating someone's career just for having a drink," Ayoub said. "He hasn't been charged with anything, hasn't hit anyone and if the NRL tried this on we'd be taking legal action."


Brand new gallery: Wild Reni and his crazy party snaps


The 26-year-old was informed of his sacking on Tuesday afternoon, after failing to front for training the previous day.


Maitua is believed to have spent the weekend drinking, first on Saturday in Kings Cross - where Mason's older brother Les was celebrating his 30th birthday - and then on Sunday night in Cronulla.


It was the third time Maitua has missed a session without explaining his absence, and Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg said the club was left with "no other option" but to terminate his contract as it strives to renew discipline in the wake of six drama-plagued seasons.


"If we say certain things about getting tough - then we owe it to the fans to follow that up with action," Greenberg said.


"That's why people should understand we've been left with little or no choice given this is not the first time Reni has offended."
Maitua was given his final warning after being dropped from first grade following a late night last Easter. He had previously missed training on two other occasions, and had also been given a formal warning after being convicted of drink-driving in 2006.


Disaffected and unhappy in the wake of Williams' sudden exit to France in July, he then approached Greenberg for a release mid-season after fielding a four-year offer from a Queensland-based club, believed to be the North Queensland Cowboys.


But Greenberg stood firm as the Bulldogs struggled with injuries, and insisted that Maitua see out the final year of his $250,000-a-season deal.


http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24747333-5006066,00.html

 

[Pierced Soul]

Maybe the alleged bashing of a police officer and being caught drink driving three times over the legal limit might have added to his problems of just being a troublesome contractor.

i think the cop thing was settled years ago so that cant be used against him. he's definately bad news but i dont think he's doen enough to be de-registered and you cant de-register someone for not turning up to training.

i cna see him wnating to stay in sydney around his beach buddies so cant imagine him at townsville givent he opportunity. i'm sure crowe will do everything in his power to get him to soufs.

personally i think he ahd a lot of talent and potential but has been nothing but trouble and i'd be just as happy to see him f**k off for good. go to yawnion or soemthing ya tosser

 

[The Colonel]

i think the cop thing was settled years ago so that cant be used against him. he's definately bad news but i dont think he's doen enough to be de-registered and you cant de-register someone for not turning up to training.

It adds to the fact though that he is more than just a troublesome contractor at the club......regardless of when it happened.

The media reports would seem to suggest he has done this to get the sack anyway and maybe that is why the NRL are looking to not allow him to sign for one year at the very least.

 

[Karmawave]

The sooner an NRL player takes the NRL to court over this deregistration bullsh*t the better!


I am for players being deregistered for criminal offences, but ultimately sacking a player and banning him from gaining employment elsewhere in the same industry for lack of commitment or not going to training is draconian.

I'm the first to be critical of players bringing the game into disrepute, but this Maitua thing is way beyond that. Forget his past. It should be irrelevant in regards to this latest incident! Relevant to the Bulldogs giving him the flick sure! Thats their choice. But certainly not relevant as to the NRL preventing a bloke earning a wage elsewhere.


It would be like sacking Barry the electrician because he turns up late all the time ( though Barry might have had a drink driving record from a few years earlier ), and then trying to prevent him from getting a job with another electrician business who is prepared to give him a go for a year.

Sounds stupid doesn't it? Well it is a total joke.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Wrong.

He made an impressive debut that night before hobbling off with an injured leg.

LMAO @ "Wrong." I bet you enjoyed typing that huh?

Since you remember his debut so well, I was wondering if you could refresh my memory by telling me one good thing he did in that game.

All I remember is him being carted off early with a sore leg after being buckled in a tackle.

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Colonel]

The sooner an NRL player takes the NRL to court over this deregistration bullsh*t the better!


I am for players being deregistered for criminal offences, but ultimately sacking a player and banning him from gaining employment elsewhere in the same industry for lack of commitment or not going to training is draconian.

I'm the first to be critical of players bringing the game into disrepute, but this Maitua thing is way beyond that. Forget his past. It should be irrelevant in regards to this latest incident! Relevant to the Bulldogs giving him the flick sure! Thats their choice. But certainly not relevant as to the NRL preventing a bloke earning a wage elsewhere.

He isn't restricted from earning a dollar elsewhere. Just the NRL. And the only players that have recently been de-registered have been for criminal offences - Todd Carney, Tevita Leo-Latu. Dane Tilse would be the only player, from the best of my knowledge, who hasn't to this point.

And in essence I agree however it seems Maitua has forced the Bulldogs hand by making them sack him so he can leave. If that is the case than the NRL, IMO, shouldn't allow him to sign with another club until his contract period has expired.

 

[Karmawave]

He isn't restricted from earning a dollar elsewhere. Just the NRL. And the only players that have recently been de-registered have been for criminal offences - Todd Carney, Tevita Leo-Latu. Dane Tilse would be the only player, from the best of my knowledge, who hasn't to this point.

And in essence I agree however it seems Maitua has forced the Bulldogs hand by making them sack him so he can leave. If that is the case than the NRL, IMO, shouldn't allow him to sign with another club until his contract period has expired.

Of course. And I agree with deregistration for such offences. But not simply poor commitment.

Its a very fine line there. Its only perception that Maitua has intentionally got himself sacked. Unless there is some pretty strong proof of this being the case, the NRL surely cannot stop him from seeking work elsewhere.

If an electrician gets the boot, its not like he has to find a job in any other industry apart from the electrician industry is it? If another employer within the same industry wants to give him a go, then they can. People are trained in specific industries. Whether it be because of a trade, or university. No different to Reni Maitua who is a league player professionally. Thats his trade.

For minor situations like Maitua, there has to be some kind of thought given to why he was eventually deregistered. Not the old criminal stuff from over a year ago. Thats irrelevant. It has to be.

He cannot be deregistered on the proviso that he intentionally tried to get the sack so he can play elsewhere.

If so, I imagine Maitua's lawyers would be cutting out the quotes in the paper right now featuring the Bulldogs staff saying how brilliant Maitua has been at training in the pre-season. I imagine Reni's lawyers would be just chomping at the bit to take them to court.

And I personally hope they do.

 

[Chachi]

The sooner an NRL player takes the NRL to court over this deregistration bullsh*t the better!


I am for players being deregistered for criminal offences, but ultimately sacking a player and banning him from gaining employment elsewhere in the same industry for lack of commitment or not going to training is draconian.

I'm the first to be critical of players bringing the game into disrepute, but this Maitua thing is way beyond that. Forget his past. It should be irrelevant in regards to this latest incident! Relevant to the Bulldogs giving him the flick sure! Thats their choice. But certainly not relevant as to the NRL preventing a bloke earning a wage elsewhere.


It would be like sacking Barry the electrician because he turns up late all the time ( though Barry might have had a drink driving record from a few years earlier ), and then trying to prevent him from getting a job with another electrician business who is prepared to give him a go for a year.

Sounds stupid doesn't it? Well it is a total joke.

There have been hundreds of cases of public servants being sacked for "non-criminal" offences through breaching their code of conduct. The sacking can effectively prevent them from being re-employed in the public service for a long period of time.

It's called working in an industry that has a code of conduct attached to it. I fail to see why there is any sympathy for idiots who repeatedly breach their contractural arrangements like this. He's had many chances and the club should not be the only one to suffer the consequences if an idiot like this can pick up a contract anywhere else at the drop of a hat.

The more clubs turn a blind eye to this stuff and the more the NRL ignores it the more it will happen. The game suffers, the clubs suffer and ultimately the fans suffer.

I don't understand your point.

 

[Pass the Ball]

Unless they continue to pay his wage, there is no way they can prevent him playing elsewhere...

Someone who misses a training session can not be wiped out of the NRL...

It is proposturous to even consider...

 

[sooperdooper]

I don't know.

Maybe the alleged bashing of a police officer and being caught drink driving three times over the legal limit might have added to his problems of just being a troublesome contractor.

they are now non issues...if they are such important issues why was he not sacked when they happened?
If the NRL try to de register him it will become a joke.. :crazy:

They are drawing a low bow by all these threats of de registration

 

[Chachi]

Unless they continue to pay his wage, there is no way they can prevent him playing elsewhere...

Someone who misses a training session can not be wiped out of the NRL...

It is proposturous to even consider...

Yep, because all he has ever done wrong in his whole career is miss a training session. :roll:

 

[Pass the Ball]

Yep, because all he has ever done wrong in his whole career is miss a training session. :roll:

That is what he has been fired for...

Not a leg to stand on..

I don't disagree with the Bulldogs decision...

I actually like this Greenberg person...

 

[Karmawave]

Yep, because all he has ever done wrong in his whole career is miss a training session. :roll:

No its not, but its essentially the reason they are sacking him for now, and its a fine reason to sack him, but not to prevent him from playing for any other club willing to take him on.


Its just ridiculous.


If what he did before criminal wise was enough to get him sacked, then he should have been sacked and deregistered then and there - AT THAT TIME.

Lack of commitment or turning up is not a criminal offence, not even close, and while its the clubs choice to let him move on, they have no rights to request the NRL to suspend him from playing for another team.

It would make a mockery of the NRL system - the NRL the new police state of sports.

 

[Chachi]

That is what he has been fired for...

Not a leg to stand on..

I don't disagree with the Bulldogs decision...

I actually like this Greenberg person...

No its not, but its essentially the reason they are sacking him for now, and its a fine reason to sack him, but not to prevent him from playing for any other club willing to take him on.


Its just ridiculous.


If what he did before criminal wise was enough to get him sacked, then he should have been sacked and deregistered then and there - AT THAT TIME.

Lack of commitment or turning up is not a criminal offence, not even close, and while its the clubs choice to let him move on, they have no rights to request the NRL to suspend him from playing for another team.

It would make a mockery of the NRL system - the NRL the new police state of sports.

I don't think any first grade sacking decision in recent history (apart from maybe the Tilse one) was based on any single incident.

Todd Carney got sacked after being accused of something where the charges were later dropped. Therefore you could argue that he effectively got sacked for doing nothing as he didn't even miss a training session. Is that a preposterous suggestion? Of course it is, the prick should have been sacked many times earlier but the club gave him chances to fix up his behaviour.

There's a concept in life called "the last straw". Reni Maitua just found out what the last straw is...and he is just lucky it didn't happen earlier.

The NRL need to stand by the Dogs so the tool doesn't win out of the situation by jumping ship to the Roosters or Cronulla or wherever the hell he wants to go.

 

[Pass the Ball]

I don't think any first grade sacking decision in recent history (apart from maybe the Tilse one) was based on any single incident.

Todd Carney got sacked after being accused of something where the charges were later dropped. Therefore you could argue that he effectively got sacked for doing nothing too. Is that a preposterous suggestion? Of course it is, the prick should have been sacked many times earlier but the club gave him chances to fix up his behaviour.

There's a concept in life called "the last straw". Reni Maitua just found out what the last straw is...and he is just lucky it didn't happen earlier.

The NRL need to stand by the Dogs so the tool doesn't win out of the situation by jumping ship to the Roosters or Cronulla or wherever the hell he wants to go.

I understand what you are saying and see where you are coming from, but the NRL can not intervene here, when he has only breached the club rules...In this instance he has not brought the game into disrepute and is therefore nothing to do with the NRL...

 

[ozjet1]

i cant beleive what professional sport has come to in this country.

Reni had to be sacked from the bulldogs. it was a toxic relationship. he didnt want to be there, he was harming himself let alone his football career, and he was destabilising the club.

but once again, we have an over-reaction from the uncordinated media-types who've never laced-on a boot. a jeolous public which is revelling in cutting down yet another high profile footballer to make up for their own boring and f**ked up lives, and BS talk about de-registering Maitua from the NRL because he might be affecting the image of the game and ticking off the game's corporate sponsors. didnt realise skipping a training session and nursing a hangover was comparable to glassing.

currently 57% of 665 respondents to a poll on to the tele.com poll reckon he should be deregistered. wonder how many of those people have take a sickie after a night on the turps and how they would deal with being prohinbited to continue in their profession for such misdemeanors.

 

[sretsoor]

The NRL can do what they want - it's their competition.

 

[Karmawave]

I don't think any first grade sacking decision in recent history (apart from maybe the Tilse one) was based on any single incident.

No, but they were all either based on criminal charges, or at the very least a police investigation into the ultimate transgression that led to their sacking.