An Australian and Samoan International representative player, he previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership.

Maitua signed with Sydney's Canterbury-Bankstown club in 2002, spending the first two years representing the Jersey Flegg U20 & reserve grade sides alongside future stars Johnathan Thurston & Sonny Bill Williams winning the 2003 Jersey Flegg Cup Premiership.

Maitua played for Canterbury-Bankstown from the interchange bench in their 2004 NRL grand final victory over cross-town rivals, the Sydney Roosters.

In the meantime, his licence is suspended and the court was told that Maitua will complete a traffic offenders education program before his sentencing.

[citation needed] Maitua had been named in the Australian Rugby League team for the Tri Nations series for the first time in his career after a knee injury ruled Brisbane forward Tonie Carroll out of the upcoming Tri-Nations tournament.

His short international career came to a grinding halt after suffering a distal syndesmosis injury to his ankle in the closing stages of the 30–18 victory over New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium.

[citation needed] In March 2008, Maitua was demoted to reserve grade after he was spotted in a drunken state at a T2 nightclub on Oxford Street, Sydney at 9.30am on a Sunday morning.

Due to his good form, inspirational leadership and a new outlook on life, he was made co-captain of the Parramatta club alongside Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah in 2013.

In June 2013, Maitua was one of 12 Parramatta players that were told that their futures at the club were uncertain by coach, Ricky Stuart.

In November 2013, Maitua was charged assault after allegedly punching a taxi driver's arm, he later wrote an apology on Twitter and pleaded not guilty.

Maitua finally returned to the first grade side, 6 years after his last appearance for Canterbury-Bankstown in Round 11 against the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium off the bench in the 32–12 loss.

In 2006, Reni Maitua was convicted of drink driving after he blew 0.165 in a random breath test in Cronulla, while on P-plates.

[16] Maitua and Tonga told their story on the NRL Footy Show in June 2014 as an attempt to help remove the stigma around mental illness in league.