
Leeds Rhinos are reeling from the long-term loss of one of their biggest names, less than three weeks before Super League round one.
Maika Sivo, signed in the off-season from Parramatta Eels on a three-year contract, will miss the entire 2025 campaign after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Leeds Rhinos’ weekend win against Wigan Warriors in Ash Handley’s testimonial game.
The Fiji Test ace scored 104 tries in 115 NRL games for Parramatta and his injury has upset coach Brad Arthur’s plans right at the end of a three-month pre-season.
Leeds may now look to recruit a winger, with sporting director Ian Blease confirming they will “review the full situation and look at all our options”.
But it is obviously not an ideal time to make signings and, though there may be salary cap dispensation for a long-term injury, if they decide to bring in a replacement winger – possibly on long-term loan – that will take time.
So how could Leeds Rhinos cover Sivo’s absence from within the existing squad?
How Leeds Rhinos could cover injured Maika Sivo
Maika Sivo has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury that will require surgery. Sad news for Maika and we wish him all the best with his recovery over the coming months.
— Leeds Rhinos (@leedsrhinos) January 27, 2025
Though he has been handed the number four jersey this year and played centre in pre-season, Handley is best known as a winger.
Arthur last week revealed Handley’s move to centre was planned before Leeds signed Sivo, but moving Leeds’ co-captain back to his former role is clearly one possibility.
That would open the door for off-season signing Jake Connor, who will start the campaign at full-back while Lachie Miller (calf muscle) and Alfie Edgell (broken jaw) are unavailable.
Connor was set to be at centre against Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day, until Edgell’s injury in training.
Youngsters Ned McCormack, Max Simpson and Jack Smith are all members of the full-time squad and can play centre or wing.
But with just seven first team appearances for Rhinos between them, Arthur won’t want to overload them at this early stage of their career, especially with McCormack (calf muscle) and Simpson (ACL) having not played in pre-season because of injury.
There are also some highly-rated outside-backs in Leeds’ academy, including Marcus Qareqare and Harley Thomas, who played in both Rhinos’ warm-up games, but they aren’t yet ready for Super League action.
Edgell played some games as a winger last year as injury cover and will be an option to fill in for Sivo once he is back to fitness, but Riley Lumb may be who Arthur turns to first.
The 20-year-old replaced Sivo on the left-wing during Sunday’s game and, though he wasn’t perfect, did some impressive work, in particular catching several testing kicks in difficult conditions.
He scored two tries on his debut in a win at Hull FC last April and also impressed in a heavy defeat away to Wigan late in the campaign.
He looked at home in the team, despite picking up a long-term injury a minute into his second game and, assuming he has done all right in training, it’s unlikely Leeds’ coaching staff would have any fears about giving him another shot.
Handley came of age, scoring 13 tries in 20 games a decade ago after getting a chance because of an injury to Tom Briscoe. It might be time for Lumb to do the same.
