The possibility of a “Sivo, Sivo” chant reverberating around Allegiant Stadium hangs in the balance with Leeds coach Brad Arthur taking an extremely conservative approach to former Eels star Maika Sivo's return from a knee injury.
Arthur declared Sivo must play against York on February 20 or he will be left out of the trip to Las Vegas after missing his entire debut Super League season in 2025 with a ruptured ACL.
The Fiji international was a crowd favourite during his six seasons with Parramatta but Arthur - his coach at the Eels - isn't prepared to take any risks with Sivo's fitness.
Chant goes up for Sivo early
"He won’t play Round 1,” Arthur explained to NRL.com. “Round 2, we’ve pencilled in that he might be right but if he’s not, we won’t risk him (in Vegas).
"The plan is Round 2 and if he goes alright in Round 2, then it’s a decision around his fitness levels for Vegas. But the priority is around the whole season - not one game.”
As they hit the run home to their Nevada debut on February 28, the Rhinos haven’t had the best of pre-seasons injury-wise; Arthur saying they have 10 players unavailable for this weekend’s Challenge Cup game against Widnes.
“Two of those guys probably could play in Lachie (Miller) and Jake Connor but just with the surface and backing up six days later, we probably think it’s better for those two that they don’t,” he said.
“The other eight guys are all touch and go for rounds one and two and that includes Maika. Early rounds, we should be getting a few of them back.
Sivo in Parradise
“Chris Hankinson, he had that broken nose but he’ll be right. Ash Handley with his groin, he’s touch and go rounds one and two. It wasn’t as bad as first thought. James McDonnell, a low level syndesmosis, touch and go rounds one and two.
Jerry (Mata’utai) with his knee - touch and go rounds one and two. Jake will definitely play round one, Lachie will definitely play round one.
“Alfie Edgell (thigh) is a 14-week proposition still, Max Simpson is obviously gone for the season with the ACL.”
Meanwhile, the Rhinos opponents in Sin City, Hull KR, have lost a key signing to the injured list too.
France Test forward Jordan Dezaria is out of both Vegas and the World Club Challenge against Brisbane at MKM Stadium on February 19 with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. He’ll miss up to the first month of the season.
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