Pirtek Parramatta Eels co-captain Reni Maitua says he's excited to have been given another chance to play at Parramatta Stadium, when the Eels take on the Dragons on Monday night.
With the second-rower moving on from the club at the end of the season, Maitua says he thought Round 22's win over the Tigers would be his final game on Parramatta soil.
"I really enjoyed our last game here, we were fortunate enough to get a win, and we're planning on that again," he said.
"For me personally its a great way to say goodbye to some people as well, and like I said, we want to win."
After the Eels decided to move Monday's game from ANZ Stadium back to Parramatta, Maitua says he's calling on the side to bring some heart back to their jersey.
"I think it's about pride and what's inside your chest," he said.
"You need to play for pride in the jersey, and the former players who've worn the jersey and the members and fans who have come out and stuck with us all year."
"Nobody's enjoyed the position we're in, but it's all about pride this week."
Parramatta's charity partner for Round 25 is the Black Dog Institute, which is promoting its 'Exercise your Mood Month' initiative for September.
Maitua says it's great to see the club supporting a charity doing everything to raise awareness about mental illness.
"I think it's usually seen as a sign of weakness for men to speaks up about problems, but the NRL is an emotional ride - winning and losing and everything else that comes with it," he said.
"I think [player welfare and wellbing] is something we need to focus on more within the NRL, I think it's a great cause and I'm glad Parramatta is behind it."
Click here to buy tickets to our final home game of 2013!
With the second-rower moving on from the club at the end of the season, Maitua says he thought Round 22's win over the Tigers would be his final game on Parramatta soil.
"I really enjoyed our last game here, we were fortunate enough to get a win, and we're planning on that again," he said.
"For me personally its a great way to say goodbye to some people as well, and like I said, we want to win."
After the Eels decided to move Monday's game from ANZ Stadium back to Parramatta, Maitua says he's calling on the side to bring some heart back to their jersey.
"I think it's about pride and what's inside your chest," he said.
"You need to play for pride in the jersey, and the former players who've worn the jersey and the members and fans who have come out and stuck with us all year."
"Nobody's enjoyed the position we're in, but it's all about pride this week."
Parramatta's charity partner for Round 25 is the Black Dog Institute, which is promoting its 'Exercise your Mood Month' initiative for September.
Maitua says it's great to see the club supporting a charity doing everything to raise awareness about mental illness.
"I think it's usually seen as a sign of weakness for men to speaks up about problems, but the NRL is an emotional ride - winning and losing and everything else that comes with it," he said.
"I think [player welfare and wellbing] is something we need to focus on more within the NRL, I think it's a great cause and I'm glad Parramatta is behind it."
Click here to buy tickets to our final home game of 2013!
