Leeds Rhinos’ top try scorer Maika Sivo is set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious arm injury in Sunday’s win over Bradford Bulls.
The Fijian was injured making a tackle in the first half of the 42-12 success, which lifted Leeds two points clear at the top of Betfred Super League. Sivo was seen with his right arm in a sling after the match and speaking to the press post-match, coach Brad Arthur confirmed: “He will have scans, but we’re probably looking at a broken forearm.
“If it is a broken forearm and it’s straight-forward, they are telling me six weeks. We’ll get him back for the end of the year and it’ll give somebody else an opportunity to step up and do their job and help us try and win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season.”
Sivo has 31 tries in all competitions this year, 29 of those in Super League. The injury will effectively wreck his chances of setting a new competition record, beating the 40 try total achieved by Castleford Tigers’ Denny Solomona a decade ago.
Rhinos will also be without 21-year-old forward Ben Littlewood for several weeks after he was hurt in the first half. It was his first start for Leeds and Arthur said: “Ben will have a scan on his hamstring.
“He’s not going to be right in the next couple of weeks, but we don’t know how bad it is. He was doing a good job – footy can be a tough game, he has just got to rehab it and see where he gets to and how quickly we can get him back.”
Leeds Rhinos boss offers injury update
Second-rower Chris Hankinson, who can play wing or at centre, will be available for Friday’s visit of Toulouse Olympique after missing today’s game due to concussion. Winger Ryan Hall and centre Ash Handley (appendicitis) could be in contention for the following week’s huge top-three derby at Wakefield Trinity.
Prop Keenan Palasia’s injured foot remains in a protective boot and Arthur said hooker Danny Levi won’t be back to face the French side following his neck injury against Castleford Tigers a week ago. After having almost a fully-fit squad for much of the opening two-thirds of the season, Rhinos are now picking up at least one new injury per week.
“It’s what happens,” Arthur said. “I knew at some stage it would happen. At least we did a good job with a full-strength team and banked all those wins. Now we’re going to have to show a fair bit of character and resilience like we did today.
“It is a good chance for the young guys and other blokes, who have been waiting for opportunities, to step up and own their jobs, like Presley [Cassell] did today and Alfie [Edgell]. Pres got some good minutes into him and I thought he was really good.”
