Huge blow for Parramatta Eels as winger Maika Sivo faces big ban
Parramatta’s season has copped a big blow with powerhouse winger Maika Sivo facing a long ban for a heavy shot on Gold Coast’s AJ Brimson. Here’s how the Eels could cover the loss.
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Maika Sivo’s growing judiciary rap sheet and Bailey Simonsson’s injury cloud has left Parramatta coach Brad Arthur with the prospect of fielding a new-look left edge on the eve of the season opener.
Just when Arthur was preparing to reunite one left-edge combination in back rower Shaun Lane and five-eighth Dylan Brown, the coach could lose another just 12 days before the Round 1 clash against Canterbury.
On Monday, winger Sivo was whacked by the match review committee with a grade two careless high tackle charge for a heavy high shot on the Gold Coast’s AJ Brimson, forcing the Titans centre from the field for a HIA in the 57th minute.
An early plea would see Sivo sit-out for three matches, missing clashes against Canterbury, Penrith and Manly. But a failed attempt to downgrade the charge at the judiciary could rub Sivo out for four games.
In a double whammy, centre Simonsson also picked an untimely hamstring issue failing to finish Sunday’s trial match.
Sivo’s poor judgement could not have come at a worse time for Arthur and only compounds Simonsson’s own injury concerns.
If Simonsson is cleared of any serious hamstring issues - which forced him from the field against the Titans - Arthur has the option of shifting him to left wing and bringing in new recruit Morgan Harper at centre.
Other options at centre include Daejarn Asi, Zac Cini and even rookie Blaize Talagi.
But if Arthur prefers to keep Simonsson at centre, the coach can turn to Haze Dunster on the wing.
Talagi is one of the brightest prospects at the club and can play in the halves, and centre, but Arthur is unlikely to rush the teenager into the starting side for the Eels’ season opener.
All of Arthur’s options, except for Cini, were named in Sunday’s trial.
Sivo’s defensive brain explosion would have been frustrating viewing for Arthur in the coach’s box given the powerhouse winger was rubbed out for a month for a similar shot on the Titans’ Jojo Fifita in Round 20 last year.
Sivo’s destructive talent is a nightmare for opposition defences, but his poor discipline is sure to be giving Arthur headaches, too.
After 103 NRL games for Parramatta, all under the guidance of Arthur, the coach has every right to be disappointed by the experienced winger.
The 30-year-old was charged by the match review committee on six separate occasions in 2023 - the same year the club extended his deal until the end of 2025 - for a total of weeks banned and $11,800 in fines.
Now Sivo is already facing a month-long ban before a single minute of the new season has been played.
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