Leeds Rhinos secured a commanding 42-12 win against the Bradford Bulls, but the celebration was dampened by a serious injury to their prolific Fijian winger, Maika Sivo. The 32‑year‑old suffered a suspected broken forearm during the match, a setback that not only sidelines him for an estimated six weeks but also jeopardises his chase of the Super League try‑scoring record. Coach Brad Arthur confirmed after the game that Sivo will require surgical plating of the forearm, meaning he will miss a substantial portion of the remainder of the campaign. At the time of his injury, Sivo was perched on 29 tries for the season, edging ever closer to the benchmark of 40 set by Castleford’s Denny Solomona in 2016.
That tally placed him among the most lethal finishers in the competition’s modern era, and his pace, power and ability to finish from almost any angle made him a constant threat to opposition defences. While Arthur remains optimistic that Sivo could return before the regular season concludes, the timeline is tight and his rehabilitation will need to be carefully managed to avoid any long‑term complications.
The incident occurred midway through Leeds’ dominant display at Headingley on Sunday, a match in which the home side crossed the try‑line seven times. Sivo was involved in a routine tackle when the injury occurred, and the impact was enough to fracture his forearm.
Teammates and fans alike expressed immediate concern, and the medical staff rushed him off the field for assessment. Subsequent scans confirmed a fracture that will require internal fixation – a procedure that typically involves inserting a metal plate to stabilise the bone.
Despite the loss of their star winger, Leeds continued to press forward. James McDonnell, celebrating his 100th Super League appearance for the Rhinos, delivered a brace of tries, showcasing his own knack for finding the try‑line. Supporting him were Jarrod O'Connor, Tom Holroyd, Brodie Croft, Cooper Jenkins and Kallum Watkins, each adding a try to the scoreboard and ensuring Leeds maintained pressure throughout the match.
Their collective effort helped Leeds bounce back from a narrow 36-34 defeat to Castleford in the previous round, re‑establishing their position at the summit of the league table. Bradford, meanwhile, endured their sixth defeat in seven top‑flight encounters.
Early on, they found the lead when Guy Armitage capitalised on a Chris Atkin kick, displaying composure and timing to put the Bulls ahead. Leeds responded swiftly, with McDonnell converting a try that signalled the start of a sustained onslaught. Even with Sivo’s abrupt exit, Leeds’ momentum did not falter. Jake Connor saw one of his attempts ruled out for a double movement, but he quickly set up a second opportunity for McDonnell, and O'Connor extended the Rhinos’ advantage to an 18-6 lead at the break.
The second half saw Bradford attempt a resurgence. Ethan Ryan collected a high ball, linked up with Atkin, and managed to cross the line, narrowing the margin.
However, Leeds’ resolve was unshaken. Tom Holroyd powered over after a massive 40‑20 kick from Connor, demonstrating the Rhinos’ ability to dominate both territory and possession.
Connor, who also took on the conversion duties, successfully kicked all seven attempts, a flawless performance that contributed to Leeds’ growing points total. With the victory, Leeds now sit atop the Super League table on 32 points after 20 games, two points clear of Wakefield Trinity and Wigan Warriors.
Bradford, on the other hand, remain in 12th place with 12 points, comfortably ahead of Hull FC but still well above the league’s bottom‑placed side, Huddersfield Giants. Looking ahead, the Rhinos will need to adapt their attacking strategies in Sivo’s absence. While the squad possesses depth, his unique blend of size, speed and finishing ability is hard to replace. Coach Arthur will likely lean more heavily on the play‑making abilities of Connor and O'Connor, while also encouraging other backs to step up and fill the try‑scoring void.
The upcoming fixtures will test Leeds’ resilience and their capacity to maintain the lead without their marquee winger. For fans eager to stay updated, Sky Sports continues to provide comprehensive coverage of the Super League, broadcasting every match live throughout the season, with two games each round shown exclusively and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.
The network also offers a dedicated app, a WhatsApp channel for breaking news, and a podcast featuring analysis from Jenna and Jon, ensuring supporters have access to all the latest developments, including injury updates, tactical breakdowns, and league standings. In summary, while Leeds celebrated a dominant victory over Bradford, the triumph was tempered by Maika Sivo’s serious forearm injury. The Rhinos retain their position at the top of the league, but the loss of a player who was on the cusp of breaking a long‑standing try‑scoring record adds an element of uncertainty to their campaign.
The coming weeks will reveal how the team copes with this challenge and whether Sivo can recover quickly enough to re‑join the push for the title and his personal milestone.