Eels to unleash new Fijian sensation

Maika Sivo's Parramatta teammates have compared him to fellow Fijian and ex-Eels winger Semi Radradra as he looks to make his NRL debut in 2019.

Could Parramatta be about to unleash the new Semi Radradra?

While most Fijian wingers are saddled with the unfair comparison to the former Eels phenom, in the case of Maika Sivo, his teammates say it's apt.

Standing 186cm and weighing 105kg, the 25-year-old is blessed with size, speed and power just like Radradra, who now plies his trade in French rugby union.

He came through the junior rugby union ranks in Fiji before moving to Australia where he was discovered playing park football in Gundagai.

He spent two years playing lower grades with Penrith - including a key role in their 2017 NSW Cup grand final win during which he scored one try, set up another and pulled off a desperate try-saver on now international star Joey Manu.

And now Sivo is looking to make the step up to first-grade.

He is coming off a shoulder reconstruction and hoping to turn out in the Eel's final trial against the Panthers, on March 2.

When asked if the Eels have the next Radradra on their hands, Blake Ferguson enthuses: "They reckon he's better.

"He's a good lad. He's still learning the game but from what I've seen of him at training, he's a top player. He's got a pretty big future in the game."

Sivo scored nine tries in 13 NSW Cup appearances last year and has been signed to a two-year deal by the Eels.

He has been included in Brad Arthur's top 30 and competing for a backline spot with the likes of Bevan French, George Jennings, Josh Hoffman and Jaeman Salmon.

Eels prop Kane Evan, also a proud Fijian, said the comparisons to Radradra were warranted.

"Bro, he's a beast," Evans told AAP.

"He hasn't been doing full contact yet, he's easing in.

"Even coming off (shoulder surgery) they have to tell him to slow down. He's a weapon. I can't wait to see him debut. He reminds me exactly of Semi.

"He didn't run for five months. He came back for his first running session and it was supposed to be light and he was running that fast, I was like 'far out'. He's got a big future ahead of him."


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Source: AAP



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