NRL: Fijian flyers Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa out to prove who is the best

Bankwest Stadium will explode on Friday night when Fijian flyers Maika Sivo and Mikaele Ravalawa battle in the Parramatta versus St George Illawarra clash.

Maika Sivo of the Eels scores a try during the round 11 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium. Photo: by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Parramatta winger Maika Sivo has been copping heat from his teammates all week about his battle against fellow Fijian flyer, Dragons back Mikaele Ravalawa, but he is ready to prove he is the superior player.

Bankwest Stadium will explode on Friday night when Sivo and Ravalawa go head-to-head for the first time this season as the Eels host the Dragons.

The Parramatta flyer revealed his personal group message with fellow Fijian NRL players has been alight in recent days with sledges ahead of the pair’s clash.

“The boys have been giving it to me saying that he (Mikaele) is a better winger, but he has been playing some good footy so it should be a good battle,” Sivo said.

“All the Fijian boys have a group chat and we always talk on there.”

Sivo is reluctant to call out Ravalawa’s weaknesses, especially given his recent run of big hits, while he has scored eight tries in his 12 games for the Dragons this season.

Mikaele Ravalawa of the Dragons scores a try despite the efforts of Mawene Hiroti of the Sharks during the Round 5 NRL match. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne.

The Dragons winger was particularly devastating in defence in round 9 against Manly when he picked off several Sea Eagles with his trademark shoulder.

It’s why Sivo could only single out Ravalawa’s aerobic capacity as a potential downfall.

“Maybe fitness wise, but we’ve had some good battles, so we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

“He is a big boy. I’ve been watching some of his games. I’ll just be sitting on the sideline and waiting for the ball to come to me.”

In all seriousness, Sivo has been a revelation since joining Parramatta last season from Penrith.

In his 13 games this season, he has scored 11 tries and ran for 1605 metres, including a whopping 33 tackle breaks.

Sivo has become a face for the next generation of Fijian kids to emulate.

“I’ve been calling my cousins in the last couple of weeks and they said the kids are running around saying, ‘I’m Miaka’,” he grinned.

“It is good to inspire the young ones and hopefully more can come to Australia.”

Sivo’s Fijian hero growing up was former Newcastle and Manly winger Aku Uate.

“He is one of the best,” Sivo declared about Uate, who remains Newcastle’s highest try scorer with 110 tries in 161 games between ‘08 and 2016.

Uate was chuffed when told about Sivo’s high praise.

“That is awesome – I love watching him play,” Uate said.

“He is a beast and he is killing it.”