Leeds Rhinos winger Maika Sivo is hopeful of being fit enough to make his competitive debut for the club in round one.
Sivo joined the Rhinos 12 months ago from Parramatta Eels on a three-year deal but his first season at the club came to end before it even started. That’s because the winger tore his ACL in January while in pre-season action against Wigan Warriors at Headingley.
He went under the knife shortly after and went on to spent the entirety of the 2025 Super League season in recovery.
The Fiji international hasn’t returned to training just yet as Brad Arthur’s side prepare themselves for the start of the 2026 campaign in February and underwent a minor clean up procedure last month.
However, he has round one set in his sights for a return to action, with Leeds travelling across the Pennines to take on Leigh Leopards.
“I’m good,” the 32-year-old told Serious About RL’s sister site, the Yorkshire Evening Post. “I had a second op’ last week, a little clean up and I am feeling better now. I should be back for round one, but you never know – I’ll see how the knee keeps going.”
On his recovery, Sivo added: “It has been hard, but I will try to get fit now and back to footy. I am not back on the field yet, but I have been on the AlterG [anti-gravity treadmill], which is good.
“There are no dramas at all, so hopefully everything keeps going the right way and I keep doing the right thing and I’ll be all right for February. I am looking forward to being back playing again.
“It has been hard, especially going through pre-season and then getting injured, but I will be back soon.”
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