Sivo likely to be stood down

NRL boss Todd Greenberg will decide before February 14 whether Maika Sivo and Josh Reynolds will be stood down, with the league eager to make a call ahead of the NRL Nines.

The Wests Tigers in particular have been awaiting a decision on star playmaker Reynolds, which will determine if the club has room in the salary cap to sign a new hooker. In the meantime, Moses Mbye is training in the position.

The duo returned to pre-season training in 2020 not knowing whether they would be free to play in round one, with both players facing serious charges before the courts.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.202%2C$multiply_2.1164%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_63/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/1e6bb6049e131d793d00bf3a951a3263cc5f175e 2x" media="(min-width: 1024px)" />https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.202%2C$multiply_1.9259%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_63/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/1e6bb6049e131d793d00bf3a951a3263cc5f175e 2x" media="(min-width: 768px)" />1e6bb6049e131d793d00bf3a951a3263cc5f175ehttps://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.202%2C$multiply_0.8862%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_63/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/1e6bb6049e131d793d00bf3a951a3263cc5f175e 2x" alt="Josh Reynolds was charged in December after the Wests Tigers star allegedly bruised his former partner. " />

Josh Reynolds was charged in December after the Wests Tigers star allegedly bruised his former partner. CREDIT:AAP

The NRL said it was eager to make a decision on the pair before the build-up to the new season, despite originally hoping to wait until the 11th hour to ensure Greenberg had as much evidence as possible.

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As per the league's policy, players charged with an offence that carries a maximum jail sentence of 11 years or more are immediately stood down until the matter is finalised in court. Greenberg can also stand down players on lesser charges.

Reynolds has pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence charge after allegedly assaulting his ex-partner, causing bruising to her right arm and left leg. He will return to court on July 23.

Parramatta winger Sivo was charged in Fiji with indecent assault after he allegedly touched the skirt of a waitress on Boxing Day. His next court date is set for February 17, which he has been excused from attending.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.164%2C$multiply_2.1164%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_68%2C$y_33/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/cbabf63288aa10bc00ef19469d97c7742aa07077 2x" media="(min-width: 1024px)" />https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.164%2C$multiply_1.9259%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_68%2C$y_33/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/cbabf63288aa10bc00ef19469d97c7742aa07077 2x" media="(min-width: 768px)" />cbabf63288aa10bc00ef19469d97c7742aa07077https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.164%2C$multiply_0.8862%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_68%2C$y_33/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/cbabf63288aa10bc00ef19469d97c7742aa07077 2x" alt="Maika Sivo returned to pre-season training with the Eels despite a looming legal battle in Fiji." />

Maika Sivo returned to pre-season training with the Eels despite a looming legal battle in Fiji.CREDIT:BENJAMIN CUEVAS

Both alleged offences carry maximum penalties of less than 11 years, but players facing charges involving women or children are said to be more likely to be stood down by Greenberg.

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Last year, the NRL boss made the call to stand down Manly centre Dylan Walker and Panthers player Tyrone May despite both players facing charges that carried sentences of less than 11 years.

May pleaded guilty to recording four sex tapes without the consent of the women in them, while Walker faced domestic violence allegations of which he was subsequently acquitted.

Reynolds and Sivo are set to be told whether they will be available in round one before the NRL Nines, which runs in Perth from February 14-15. The tournament, which includes all 16 clubs, returns after a two-year absence and kicks off the rugby league season.

Rugby league's players union is fighting for greater clarity around the stand-down rule, arguing more guidelines are needed to understand when players will be affected by the policy.

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  • Now if I am Sivos lawyer I'd be arguing that everyone in fiji wears a skirt and that the women look just like the men.soooo a simple case of mistaken gender.case dismissed.

  • I think the cases last year show how stupid this rule is. The courts see the players innocent until proven guilty, why is the NRL trying to imply they are guilty?

  • Broncos paid them off.

    We ok now boss.

  • Yes you have to respect fiji law etc.but if he gets rubbed out by the NRL for tugging a girls skirt, that'll do me.FAFITA belted a bloke and doesn't miss a game. 

    • It's called woke hysteria .  A male can bash and almost kill a male to a inch of their life( maybe even kill ) and it's basically nothing to see , Josh Reynolds swears at a chick to get out his place and it's national news and called disgraceful etc

       

      • Pretty obvious the Reynolds one was set up by chick and first thing I thought when saw it.  Someone commented elsewhere that she didn't appear to be holding camera as well meaning she purposely set it up to record prior to Reynolds walking in.  Reynolds said she barged in which means she wasn't invited and surely he can use reasonable force to get her out of his home if she isn't supposed to be there.  She also took over a month to report it which was after Reynolds had told NRL and police about tape which points towards blackmail.

        Sivo case bit harder to get understanding and will be a he said she said case.  She only reported it after she got sacked from job which would point to more witnesses on sivos side including the management where alleged offence occured.

        Due to high probability of both getting off the charges the NRL has to be careful as their record of standing down players who get off charges is becoming all to common and actually encouraging women to try and blackmail players and make frivolous claims  due to the damage of reputation it causes to the players.

      • 100%

      • LOL woke. 

        On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.

        Bryant, W. & Bricknall, S. (2017). Homicide in Australia 2012-2014: National Homicide Monitoring Program report. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. Retrieved from

      • Exactly right Ken.

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