Revealed - Parramatta's cult hero Maika Sivo being paid the wage of a brickie's labourer. - Eels Blogs

Fijian flyer can also lay claim to being the best value-for-money buy in the NRL with Eels speedster Maika Sivo on a paltry minimum wage playing contract worth $72,500.

Sivo’s journey from humble beginnings in Fiji to playing bush rugby league with the Gundagai Tigers and progressing all the way to the NRL is already one of the feel-good stories of this season.

While fellow Eels flyer Blake Ferguson is justifiably collecting an annual pay packet of $500,000 per season, Sivo is on minimum wage plus $3000 for every NRL appearance he makes.

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Round 9

Sivo's absurd solo try

1:07

In terms of bang for your buck, it’s hard to find better value.

Against the Dragons in round eight, Sivo ran for 199m, made six tackle busts, two line breaks and sent Bankwest Stadium into overdrive with two scintillating tries.

There’s an argument Sivo and Ferguson represent one of the best power wing combinations in the NRL.

Along with the Storm’s Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu and the Warriors Ken Maumalo and David Fusitua, the pair regularly combine to get their teams out of yardage and then score tries at the opposite end.

Sivo has scored six tries in eight games this season.

"He's going to Eels. Dogs won't offer him anything, 3 reasons. 1 he's not a 7, dogs need a 7. 2 would make no sense with Mitch Woods being touted as their future 7, a real good young player. 3 the dogs haven't said anything or indicated in any way…"

"I would not say massive improvement. But lets say he kept Lane and Matto for 2026 and we finished like 12th i think the club have leeway. But he makes signings with the cash and we finish 12th? I think he is given 2027 but is on a massive hot seat."

Replies

Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin May 6, 2019 at 9:35pm

He looks every bit as good as Semi at the same stage of their careers. Sivo also has great defensive instincts that Semi lacked.

I'd like to upgrade and extend Sivo asap.
Muttman May 6, 2019 at 9:40pm

He’s going great but he’s played 8 games. Eight!!! Not 28, not 58....8!!!

I hope he continues to develop and we do upgrade him when the time is right. Fantastic. But can we at least wait until he hits double digits??
- Nick > Muttman May 6, 2019 at 10:33pm
  
  No. The longer we wait the more we ll have to pay. Blind Freddy knows he ll be a super star. Offer him a 230 000 for five years now. And maybe upgrade him again in three years.
  - This reply was deleted.
    - SuperEel 22 > Muttman May 7, 2019 at 8:21am
      
      I'd just upgrade him to the minimum NRL wage of $110,000 for two years.
      - parra supporter > SuperEel 22 May 7, 2019 at 9:09am
        
        If he’s on 70k plus 3K per match (presume he plays the whole season injury free) that’s added 60-70K in match payments, He’d be on more than the 110 a year this year, may get more than that if upgraded
Eel for life May 6, 2019 at 10:00pm

Is he managed by Sam Ayoub???
This reply was deleted.
- Brett Allen May 7, 2019 at 7:27am
  
  I think they're referring to the 72.5k, which is still probably more than a brickie's labourer.
Darren Munro May 6, 2019 at 10:40pm

I love his happiness of the game. He is so happy to be here. What is happening with the other Fijian centre we poached from rugby?
Frank The Tank May 6, 2019 at 11:58pm

First time i laid eyes on him I thought we had ourselves another Semi only with a better defensive instinct.

Upgrade him now and lock him away before other clubs lure him away and pay him his true worth.
Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst May 7, 2019 at 6:30am

He will end up at French Rugby, you can take that to the bank!!