Leeds Rhinos' Maika Sivo vows 'heaps of improvement' says Hull KR Vegas clash is 'once in lifetime experience'
One game into his comeback, Maika Sivo insists he will get better.
Leeds Rhinos’ Fijian winger was the star of last Friday’s 46-14 win against York Knights at AMT Headingley, smashing his way over for two tries to celebrate returning from a 13-month injury lay off. Now fully recovered from his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (acl), it was an early glimpse of why the 32-year-old powerhouse was so prolific in the NRL, where he crossed 104 times in 115 appearances for Parramatta Eels.
Leeds boss Brad Arthur, who coached him at Parramatta, reckons it will be five-10 weeks before Sivo hits peak form and the player insisted: “I have heaps of improvement to make. Game fitness is my number one goal and I will get better.”
For Sivo, the brace of tries against York was a bonus. There was an early scare when he suffered a bang to a knee, but he played on and confLeeds Rhinos fans excited by win v York Knights, hail Maika Sivo, can't wait' for Hull KR Las Vegas clashirmed he got through with “no dramas”. He said: “The main focus for me was finishing the game without any injuries, so I am happy about that.
“I was nervous the whole week, but [Friday] was worse, I have never been that nervous before a game. The last year was hard, but I am so happy I have got good people around me who support me. It is my second one [acl] so I knew what was coming.
“I wasn’t nervous about the knee, I was more nervous about my game fitness. It was good to finish the game without any injuries and it was good to score two tries. As a winger that’s our job and I did my job.”
Sivo is already on the way to becoming a Rhinos fans’ favourite and described the reception he received from the AMT Headingley crowd as “unbelievable”. Now the first match is out of the way, he insisted: “I am not looking too far. I am just going to take one game at a time and go from there.”
Next up is Hull KR in Las Vegas on Saturday and Sivo was relieved to get a run under his belt before the big stage. “That was a focus for me coming into [Friday’s] game, just finish it without injury and get some game fitness,” he said.
“I have been out of the game for a while so I am trying to get used to it again. For me Vegas is just another game, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go and play in front of the crowd there and I am looking forward to it. I have been out of the game a very long time and it feels good to be back. I really missed playing, especially around the boys and the team we’ve got.”
Sivo’s long-term injury came just two months into his Leeds career, having moved with his family to the other side of the world. Reflecting on how he coped, he said: “My family have kept me busy, especially my three young boys. They have been a big part of me coming back and it is good to have that support around you.”
The Yorkshire Evening Post’s coverage of Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas is in association with Betfred Super League. Saturday’s showdown between Rhinos and Hull KR at Allegiant Stadium is an early highlight of a packed year of club rugby league action which also includes the Challenge Cup final at Wembley on May 30, a blockbuster Magic Weekend at Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 4-5 and the Super League Grand Final on October 3 at Old Trafford. Experience live Super League. League Hits Different. To guarantee your place, visit Super League | Tickets