Toronto Wolfpack tempt Reni Maitua out of retirement

Toronto have signed former NRL and Leigh forward Reni Maitua.

Maitua, 35, retired from rugby league at the end of 2016 to take up a career in boxing, but will put on his boots once more for the Wolfpack.

He played more than 150 times in the NRL for Canterbury, Cronulla and Parramatta.

Coach Paul Rowley said: “We’ve brought in Reni Maitua out of retirement and we believe he can be a great addition to the squad. Having originally signed him at Leigh, I’m very happy to bring him in. There’s 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 can’t wait to get started.”

Rowley has been working to bolster a squad that was depleted on the eve of the season by the departures of Dave Taylor, Fuifui Moimoi and Ryan Bailey.

He has since recruited ex-Widnes prop Jack Buchanan and Hull outside back Nick Rawsthorne, and now Maitua.

The Samoan international added: “I 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 wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.”

Maitua first came to the UK in 2015 with Featherstone, scoring five tries in 13 appearances, before moving on to Salford for the qualifiers.

He scored 14 tries in 29 appearances for the Centurions in 2016 before hanging up his boots, helping them to promotion to Super League.