The transfer reunited the Fijian international winger with his former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur. He was released from the final year of his Eels contract for salary cap reasons and the NRL club are understood to be contributing towards his wages at Leeds.
Sivo confirmed the prospect of playing under Arthur again was a huge factor in his decision to sign for Rhinos, on a three-year deal. He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I have been with him for six or seven years now, so he was a big influence in me coming to Leeds.
“I think I was ready for a change. I am 31 and age is catching up so when I got a call from Brad and the opportunity came up, it was good for me. Brad gave me my debut jersey and I have been with him from the start, so it is good [to play under him] again.”
The Fijian spent six seasons in the NRL, scoring a remarkable 104 tries in 114 games for Parramatta. Given his record in the world’s toughest competition, Aussie pundits have tipped Sivo to be a prolific try scorer in Betfred Super League, but he hasn’t set a target and stressed switching hemispheres “doesn’t change the way I am going to play”.
He pledged: “I am going to play the same as I did in the NRL. It is exciting playing in Super League and it would be good to score a few tries this year, so I am looking forward to it. I will take each game as it comes and do my best.”
Sivo and club icon Ryan Hall, who has returned to Leeds from Hull KR, are expected to be Rhinos’ first-choice wingers next year, with team co-captain Ash Handley moving into the centres. “The whole backline – we have got Harry [Newman] there too – is good,” Sivo noted.