Rene Maitua in Armidale for the Parramatta trial match against the Knights. Picture: David Doyle
THERE was a time when Reni Maitua found leadership as difficult as walking away from a scrap.
How times have changed.
As the most reputed player in tonight's trial between Parramatta and Newcastle in Armidale, Maitua knows what to expect from an opposition team of unheralded NSW Cup players.
"I'm actually more nervous than any time coming into a game," he said. "It's nerve-racking coming up against fringe first-graders, because they're all going to want to take out the bloke who's played a bit of NRL.
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"I know that's what I'd be doing if I were younger, anyway. So I'm expecting there to be a few fireworks."
But Maitua is no stranger to unwanted attention from cocky upstarts this off-season.
Just before Christmas the 30-year-old's maturity was sorely tested when he was allegedly blind-sided by 18-year-old clubmate Shaun Anderson following an argument outside a Kings Cross nightclub.
Contrary to his blue-collar upbringing, Maitua did not retaliate and reported the incident to Parramatta officials. Given his past and Bra Boys connection, the Eels hierarchy was pleasantly surprised. But Maitua admits he needed the help of others to overcome his instincts.
"The biggest thing is your ego and pride gets bruised in that situation," he said. "But it was a situation I shouldn't have put myself in. As a senior player, I shouldn't be out at that hour and in that area.
"It was something that was very, very, very hard for me to walk away from. The way I was brought up, I would have dealt with that situation a little bit differently a few years ago. I look at it in hindsight and I'm glad I didn't retaliate.
"But it was not all me that walked away from it. I had unbelievable support from the whole Parramatta club, right through to the CEO (Ken Edwards). Thanks to that support, I was able to get over it pretty quickly."
The legacy of Maitua's unlikely restraint continues. Calls for him to be appointed Eels captain - started by previous skipper Nathan Hindmarsh - only intensified.
Rene Maitua in action for the Eels last year. Picture: David Doyle Source:
Silent about his aspirations all summer, Maitua revealed the speculation made him uncomfortable.
And so did the concept of being a role model for young players; a responsibility that was thrust upon him last season.
While the rugby league caravan moves on, Maitua is always conscious of his previous sins - most significantly the two-year ban he served for returning a positive drugs test.
"It was a scary role to be known as a leader," he said.
"I've not had the best past.
"I would not have seen myself as a person others would look up to, given I was suspended from the game and had some other off-field dramas.
"At first I was not comfortable with it and part of me still gets defensive about leadership."
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