Reni Maitua sacked! Another Bulldog bites the dust

Annika Burgess & AAP | 03/12/08 | 0

AUDIO - Enough is enough: Greenburg

Former Kangaroos backrower Reni Maitua is poised to become the NRL's latest serial offender to trade his wares overseas after being sacked by the Bulldogs.

The NRL has seemingly shut the door on the talented 26-year-old joining another club in the competition next season - effectively forcing him to consider his options in England and France.

The member of the 2004 premiership-winning team has had a long history of misdemeanors and the Bulldogs' patience finally ran out when he missed a training session on Monday morning.

Having failed to hand the club an explanation for his no-show, the one-Test player was hauled before the club's disciplinary committee on Tuesday and handed his marching orders.

Maitua had wanted out of the club this year and there had been speculation that this latest move had been to free him up to move to another NRL club.

But NRL chief executive David Gallop quickly killed off any such speculation.

"If another club wanted to sign him we would be unlikely to register the contract for 2009 on the basis of the information that we have," Gallop told AAP.

"Where players are terminated for repeat behavioral issues we have to back the club or risk the inherent unfairness of the player walking into another team.

"The simple message is to stay out of trouble."

Maitua has 48 hours to appeal his latest breach of the club's code of conduct but that looks dead in the water with Channel Nine reporting he had been out drinking on Sunday night in Cronulla.

His dismissal is expected to lead to Maitua following other troubled league stars such as Tim Smith and Todd Carney to the English Super League.

Maitua's management couldn't be reached for comment.

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said it was a dark day for the club.

"This is by no means anything other than a disappointing day for (coach) Kevin (Moore) and I," he said.

"He has put the club in a difficult position where recruitment is now complete and this is not a decision we have made lightly but one we had to make."

The Bulldogs have tried to shed their reputation built up over recent seasons for bad behaviour.

They have a new coach in Moore and made some handy acquisitions in the off-season in former Brisbane duo Ben Hannant and Michael Ennis and ex-Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley.

And the decision to cast Maitua aside is another sign of a more hardline approach from the Bulldogs who have struggled to manage wayward stars such as Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason in the past.

"It takes more then just being a good footballer to be a part of the Bulldogs," Greenberg said.

Maitua has a long rap sheet, having missed training in the past and lost his licence for drink driving.

He spent time in reserve grade this year because of his poor attitude.

Greenberg said that Maitua was "disappointed" to have his contract torn up and had not intentionally missed training.

His departure continued the exodus of players from the club with captain Andrew Ryan the sole remaining forward from their 2004 title-winning pack, having lost the services of the likes of Steve Price, Mason, Williams, Mark O'Meley and Roy Asotasi.

That's simply not good enough, and it's not in keeping with the fundamental principles of the Bulldogs. Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg