‘I wish I was out there’: Maika Sivo vows to fix tackle technique after latest ban

Star Parramatta winger Maika Sivo has spent the past few weeks working on his tackle technique to ensure he doesn’t spend any more time on the sidelines after he missed the first three rounds due to suspension.

The Fijian powerhouse took the early guilty plea for a grade two careless high tackle on Gold Coast’s AJ Brimson during the trials, with Sivo also banned for four matches last year for a similar tackle against the Titans.

Both tackles saw him jam in off his wing to whack the ball-carrier, but he got his technique wrong both times and hit the attacker in the head.

It’s something the NRL has cracked down on over the past 12 months, and it’s something Sivo desperately needs to fix given how important he is to the Eels.

“It is what it is. I just have to change my tackling technique and go from there,” he said, looking to add to the 20 tries he scored from 20 games last year.

“I’ve been practising after every session with our defence coach. I’ve been improving and can’t wait to get back.

“I’ve been doing it for the past two weeks to try to get into the habit of that and then implement that on the field.

“I don’t want to be on the outside watching the boys play. I wish I was out there, but in saying that, I have to keep working on my technique.”

Sivo will likely make his return against the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday, with his teammates desperate to keep him on the field after injuries and suspensions ruined their 2023 campaign.

“It’s not acceptable in the game and he knows that,” five-eighth Dylan Brown said earlier this year.

“There are times, moments in the game where he just gets his technique wrong.

“You look at it, there are head-highs all over the place and his ones are obviously a bit worse.

“It’s something he’s practised on a lot, and unluckily, he caught him high again.

“It (the ban) is fair. That’s what’s going to happen, it’s too dangerous, especially with all the head knocks going around.

“We’re glad the rule is there and we’re disappointed, but at the same time, he knows he’s got to continue to work on it and take it out of his game.”

The Eels can’t afford to lose any more stars after halfback Mitchell Moses was ruled out for up to eight weeks after he suffered a fracture to his left foot which requires surgery.