Leeds Rhinos’ Brad Arthur opens up on Maika Sivo expectations with 2026 prediction made

Winger Maika Sivo will be like a new signing for Leeds Rhinos this season, says head coach Brad Arthur.

Sivo has been with Leeds for 12 months now after joining the club from Parramatta Eels ahead of the 2025 season. However, he is still waiting to make his competitive debut for the Rhinos after rupturing his ACL last January.

That setback came in the pre-season clash with Wigan Warriors at Headingley, instantly ruling him out of his first season in the Northern Hemisphere. Sivo had surgery at the time and he recently went under the knife once more for a clean up procedure.

However, he is now closing in on a return to full fitness and has the opening round of the season clash with Leigh Leopards in his cross hairs.

Arthur has been impressed with the way the Fijian has worked during his time out of the action and the head coach is tipping him to make a real impact on his return to the side.

Leeds Rhinos head coach on Maika Sivo

“It’s exciting because all the boys were excited about what they’ve seen from him in the pre-season and how physical and hard he was to handle in the contact room,” Arthur said during his press conference on Thursday afternoon as the club prepare to face Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day.

“He got 40 minutes in the Boxing Day game and then a little bit of time in the following game against Wigan. He was showing some good signs for us and unfortunately he got injured.

“All the boys are excited and just happy for Maika to get out on the field. You move to the other side of the world and then you get injured, it can become very lonesome.

“He’s done a good job to rehab himself, Fergie (David Ferguson) has done a good job working with him. It might take a few weeks for him to get back into the flow and a bit of rhythm but once he gets his full match fitness, he’s certainly going to be a handful and he’ll be like a new player to our squad, we’re really excited to get him back on the field.”

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