Sivo impresses...
Maika Sivo scores 4 tries in Parramatta’s big win.
Sydney: The last Parramatta Eels player to score four tries in an NRL match was Semi Radradra in 2017. That feat was equalled at the Bankwest Stadium on Friday night by Maika Sivo in Eels 42-4 win over North Queensland Cowboys.
“I’ve never met Semi,” Sivo told
Fox Sports after the match.
Sivo made seven tackle busts and ran 128 metres as he dominated the left edge.
Fellow Fijian Bati team-mate Waqa Blake also played well at centre for Eels as he scored a try from a superb aerial take to land in-goal for a well-deserved four-pointer. Also putting on a superb performance was captain Clint Gutherson.
He ran for 222 metres and had three try assists as well as six tackle busts. In his 100th NRL game the captain’s goal kicking was also elite, slotting seven of eight attempts with the boot, including several from the sideline.
It took 12 minutes for the first points to be scored in what was an arm wrestle at Bankwest Stadium between Parramatta and North Queensland.
Eels veteran Michael Jennings broke the deadlock after both sides started hot. Then it was a magical two-man cut-out ball from captain Gutherson onto the chest of Sivo to extend the lead in the 23rd minute. The Cowboys finally got one back just on the stroke of half time when Tom Opacic slid through to score.
The second half began all Parramatta’s way when a bomb ended up in the hands of club debutant Jai Field who showed his speed to find the line.
Then it was Gutherson once again who threw another peach to Sivo for a try, his third try assist of the night.
Sivo scored his third in the 63rd minute when he simply steamrolled the opposition on his way to the line.
With seven minutes on the clock Sivo scored his fourth, walking over untouched.