‘Devastating’: Ex-Eels flyer Maika Sivo suffers season-ending ACL rupture early in Super League deal
Former Parramatta Eels flyer Maika Sivo will miss the entire Super League season with his new club after he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Scans have revealed the Fijian international, who departed the Eels for English club the Leeds Rhinos after the 2024 NRL season, suffered an ACL rupture to his left knee during a pre-season match against the Wigan Warriors at the weekend.
The 31-year-old is only several months into a three-year deal with Leeds.
“Our first thoughts are with Maika and we will all get round him and give him and his family our support,” said Rhinos coach Brad Arthur, who was also Sivo’s coach at the Eels.
“Our medical team will make sure he has the best possible treatment to come back from the injury as soon as possible.
“Maika is a strong character and I am sure he will throw himself into his recovery to get back to his best.”
Maika Sivo is helped from the field after injuring his left anterior cruciate ligament. X
In a tackle that went horribly wrong during a match with the Eels in August 2021, Sivo ruptured the ACL in his right knee and damaged his MCL, which ruled him out of Parramatta’s finals campaign and the first 13 rounds of the next season.
Rhinos sporting director Ian Blease said the latest injury was an “extremely tough blow” for the club and “devastating” for Sivo.
“We were all excited to see what he could do in Super League in 2025 but we will just have to wait for that now,” Blease said.
“In terms of our squad, we will need to review the full situation and look at all our options. We have some outstanding young players who could well now get the opportunity to grab their chance, and I will be discussing all our options with the club, Brad and the coaching staff in the coming weeks ahead of the season kicking off.”
Leeds will open their season in a clash with the Leigh Leopards on Friday, February 14 (AEDT).
