Connect with us

Rugby League News

Watch: New Leeds Rhinos signing bags brace for Fiji

Leeds Rhinos Maika Sivo

Leeds Rhinos’ newest signing Maika Sivo was in action for Fiji as they faced the Cook Islands in a physical contest down under.

Just three hours after being confirmed as the latest arrival at Headingley, Sivo would line up on the wing against the Cook Islands in the Pacific Championships.

Sivo’s Fiji had lost against Papua New Guinea last week when former Leeds Rhinos man Nene Macdonald starred meaning that the Bati must win if they were to keep their hopes of lifting the Pacific Championship Bowl.

Fiji fight back from slow start to rout Cook Islands as Leeds Rhinos man scores brace

Leeds Rhinos linked Maika Sivo

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

In a line-up featuring the likes of former Leigh man Ben Nakubuwai, the retiring Kevin Naiqama and of course Leeds Rhinos’ latest recruit Sivo, Fiji got off to the worst start with Sivo knocking on with the Bati’s first carry.

The slow start was then punished when hooker Rua Ngatikaura dove under from dummy-half to open the scoring twelve minutes into the game.

Fiji would start to asser their control as expected, given that they started the game as 1/5 favourites. That control materialised itself as two tries on the left edge but neither came via Sivo.

Penrith’s Sunia Turuva charged over before veteran Michael Jennings added a quick brace to make it 18-6. That lead was extended shortly before the break when Fiji would charge 80 metres down the field from three consecutive runs out of dummy-half, the last of which saw Kitione Kautoga scoop and run to score from ten metres out.

Semi Valemei rose highest to collect a spiralling kick and score ten minutes into the second half as Fiji continued to assert themselves with Taane Milne slotting the kick once again to make it 30-6.

Michael Jennings would then complete his hattrick after a cutout pass to Sivo saw him lay the ball on the plate for the veteran. This time, Milne didn’t kick but his deputy Rixson Andrew missed although it hardly mattered with the game a none-contest by then.

That was evident when former Leigh prop forward Ben Nakubuwai was able to collect a kick chase and score next to the sticks, allowing Kevin Naiqama an easy conversion to make it 40-6.

Then came the moment that any Leeds Rhinos fans watching were waiting for as Maika Sivo scored from 50 metres out as he supported an intercept. The winger was almost dragged down but used his strength to stay on his feet and score in the corner.

His try saw commentator Aaron Woods confirm that it was ‘disappointing’ to see such a ‘showman’ leave the NRL, hinting that Leeds fans could well be entertained plenty when watching the Rhinos across the next three years.

Less than two minutes later, Sivo was there once again to support Jennings in a return of the favour from earlier as the incoming Rhino scored his second of the night, prompting chants of ‘Sivo’ around the ground.

Valemei was another to bag a brace as he scored in the corner late on to take the final score to 56-6.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Must See

More in Rugby League News