Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart was always convinced his new co-captain Reni Maitua had leadership qualities despite his chequered NRL past.
Maitua and star back Jarryd Hayne are the Eels co-captains for 2013, with forward Tim Mannah the club captain.
The appointment represents the latest up in what Maitua himself describes as a rollercoaster ride.
The highs included winning an NRL title with the Bulldogs in 2004 and playing one Test for Australia.
Among the lows were a drink-driving charge, being sacked by the Bulldogs for repeated breaches of the club’s code of conduct and and a two-year NRL ban for returning a positive drug test in 2009 while with Cronulla.
Stuart was coach of the Sharks when Maitua was banned.
When the former NSW coach signed with Parramatta the talented utility was determined “to repay him anything that I let him down with at the Sharks”.
Stuart said: “I’ve never ever seen a reason why people aren’t allowed to change and he’s never ever had to change from being a bad person.
“He’s always had leadership qualities, Reni.”
Stuart wasn’t initially looking for multiple captains.
However he changed his mind after chatting to former Sydney Swans AFL-premiership winning coach Paul Roos.
“He was probably the guy who created the idea of co-captains,” Stuart said of Roos.
“I liked the fact that he said in today’s environment of so many media appearances and commitments that are put on the table for a captain, it’s a position now that I think has to be shared.”
The idea of captaincy grew on Maitua, though as recently as a few months ago he was far from convinced.
“A couple of years ago, I definitely would have said there was no way,” Maitua said.
“I wasn’t even sure if I was going to come back to the game.
“The last couple of years this club has been great to me, they gave me an opportunity after my suspension.
“Three months ago I would have said no to the job.
“Two weeks ago, I made a decision that I personally probably would have been a little bit disappointed if I wasn’t one of the captains, so I’m really happy with where I’m at at the moment.”
Hayne said the captaincy was the biggest responsibility of his career and he’s looking forward to the challenge.