Leeds Rhinos ‘close to signing’ Maika Sivo according to leading voice

One NRL player was described as “close to signing” with Leeds Rhinos when playing on the international stage over the weekend.

That is what leading NRL voice and current Canterbury Bulldogs General Manager, Phil Gould, said of Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo.

Sivo has been linked with the Rhinos for a long period and those links only heightened with the appointment of Brad Arthur as speculation grew regarding a possible reunion of the two.

The Fijian winger has been a Parramatta player since 2019 when he debuted so he has played effectively all of his NRL career, barring the past five months, under Brad Arthur.

Aged 31 and coming off the back of a campaign that saw him score 17 in 12, the Fijian winger could be a savvy signing, especially with overseas winger David Fusitu’a departing the club after the expiry of his contract. Per Gus Gould, the deal to bring Sivo to Super League is “close”.

Leeds Rhinos set to land NRL winger

Gould would make his comments when working on Channel Nine’s broadcast of the game between Fiji and Papua New Guinea, a historic match as it was the first played in Fiji since 2003.

Unfortunately, it was not a happy homecoming for Fiji with PNG running out as 22-10 winners in a game that saw Super League stars shine. Salford’s Nene Macdonald was the pick of the bunch as he scored a try playing full-back as opposed to centre.

Sivo would score a consolation try late on but it wasn’t the greatest showing of his abilities for any Leeds Rhinos fans watching and assessing the performance.

Any that watched via Australian coverage on Channel Nine will have picked up on what Gus Gould said about Sivo’s links with Leeds Rhinos.

On Sivo, Gould said that the winger is “close to signing over in England with Leeds”. That’s in spite of the winger being contracted until the end of the 2027 campaign, however, he has been allowed to speak with other clubs.

Should Sivo land in England and sign for the Rhinos then he would become the third overseas recruit, following in the footsteps of Keenan Palasia and Cooper Jenkins.