Breaking: Parramatta Eels star closing in on move to join the Super League

YESTERDAY, League Express exclusively revealed that Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo had been available for Super League clubs to sign.

After being a regular first-teamer in the NRL, the Fijian has found opportunities restricted in 2024, and, while he is under contract with the club until the end of 2025, the Eels will not stand in his way if another team comes calling.

But which three Super League clubs might Sivo join?

St Helens

Waqa Blake and Konrad Hurrell are out of contract with St Helens at the end of the 2024 Super League season, while Tommy Makinson will join Catalans Dragons. If Blake and Hurrell are not offered new contracts, the Saints will need a new winger, and blockbusting Sivo would bring plenty of strength and pace out wide. The 30-year-old still has a few years at the top, and while Parramatta is willing to let him go, the Saints may benefit.

Leigh Leopards

After losing Tom Briscoe and Zak Hardaker to Hull FC, the Leopards require outside backs. Josh Charnley and Gareth O’Brien have been signed, however Leigh are expecting to lose quota players Tom Amone and Kai O’Donnell, with John Asiata having confirmed to play for Hull in 2025. Bringing in Maika Sivo would strengthen the Leopards out wide and increase their strike power. Briscoe’s departure was significant for another reason: his carries are always useful coming out of defense. Sivo could also close that deficit.

Leeds Rhinos

Maika Sivo for David Fusitu’a? It might be a straight-for-straight move, given Fusitu’a’s injury history at Headingley. The Rhinos are also set to lose Luis Roberts, thus head coach Rohan Smith must sign reinforcements for the outside backs in 2025. The big Sivo would provide another dimension to Leeds’ assault, which is starving for metre-eating backs.

Catalans Dragons

Catalans have been successful in the international market in recent years, but with two of their quota spaces – Siosiua Taukeiaho and Matt Ikuvalu – set to leave, the way is open to import Sivo. The strong winger would be a more than suitable replacement for Tom Davies and Tom Johnstone, who are both returning to England at the conclusion of the season and have a point to prove after being released by the Eels.