Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
By Stuart Honeysett and Brent Read
June 8, 2006
The Australian
June 8, 2006
THE BULLDOGS are almost certain to lose New Zealand prop Roy Asotasi next season after utility Reni Maitua signed a new three-year deal with the club yesterday.
Maitua's decision now leaves the Belmore club with Asotasi, Nate Myles, Luke Patten and Willie Tonga as the only recognised first grade players unsigned for next season, and there was speculation yesterday Tonga was also close to staying put.
Patten and Myles are also believed to be weighing up offers while Asotasi's manager, Mark Rowan, has put terms to the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad refused to concede they had lost Asotasi, but it is highly unlikely the club will retain him, given it already has representative forwards Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Mark O'Meley and Andrew Ryan on its books.
"We're doing our absolute best to keep all our players off contract but with the salary cap these days that's extremely difficult," Noad said.
Rowan will hold the latest round of contract talks with Bulldogs officials today.
"We put some terms to Canterbury and I don't think they're unfair," Rowan said.
"I'd like Roy to stay and Roy would like to stay. In the end it's going to be a decision Roy will have to make."
Maitua's deal caps a remarkable turnaround for the 24-year-old, following the club's decision to suspend contract talks with him in April after he was charged with high range drink-driving.
He was eventually fined $15,000 ($7500 of which was suspended) by the club and asked to attend an alcohol awareness program and to undergo community service.
It was the second time this season Maitua was dropped to reserve grade; he was also punished for turning up late to a training session in March.
"He's shown a very professional attitude off the field the last month, particularly in the way he's played," Noad said.
"He made a mistake and you've got to move on. We've done that and so has he. Once we started negotiations it didn't really take that long."
Maitua, who would have been a target for South Sydney after June 30, said in a statement issued by the club he was happy to have his future out of the way.
"I'm relieved the whole negotiation process is over and I can now concentrate on my performance on the field," Maitua said.
"I'm lucky to be playing with such a great bunch of guys, so I'm really happy to be staying at the Bulldogs."
Maitua's decision now leaves the Belmore club with Asotasi, Nate Myles, Luke Patten and Willie Tonga as the only recognised first grade players unsigned for next season, and there was speculation yesterday Tonga was also close to staying put.
Patten and Myles are also believed to be weighing up offers while Asotasi's manager, Mark Rowan, has put terms to the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad refused to concede they had lost Asotasi, but it is highly unlikely the club will retain him, given it already has representative forwards Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Mark O'Meley and Andrew Ryan on its books.
"We're doing our absolute best to keep all our players off contract but with the salary cap these days that's extremely difficult," Noad said.
Rowan will hold the latest round of contract talks with Bulldogs officials today.
"We put some terms to Canterbury and I don't think they're unfair," Rowan said.
"I'd like Roy to stay and Roy would like to stay. In the end it's going to be a decision Roy will have to make."
Maitua's deal caps a remarkable turnaround for the 24-year-old, following the club's decision to suspend contract talks with him in April after he was charged with high range drink-driving.
He was eventually fined $15,000 ($7500 of which was suspended) by the club and asked to attend an alcohol awareness program and to undergo community service.
It was the second time this season Maitua was dropped to reserve grade; he was also punished for turning up late to a training session in March.
"He's shown a very professional attitude off the field the last month, particularly in the way he's played," Noad said.
"He made a mistake and you've got to move on. We've done that and so has he. Once we started negotiations it didn't really take that long."
Maitua, who would have been a target for South Sydney after June 30, said in a statement issued by the club he was happy to have his future out of the way.
"I'm relieved the whole negotiation process is over and I can now concentrate on my performance on the field," Maitua said.
"I'm lucky to be playing with such a great bunch of guys, so I'm really happy to be staying at the Bulldogs."
The Australian
