Maika Sivo hasn’t seen his parents in more than three years but that’s all about to change when the Fijian family reunite for the NRL Telstra Premiership grand final on Sunday.
Sivo’s parents Joeli and Mere will make the mad dash from their small village in Momi, a 40-minute drive from Nadi in Fiji, to watch their son play in person for the first time since 2019.
It will be an emotional occasion for the family, who have mourned the loss of Sivo’s younger brother Luva for the past 12 months after he tragically passed away aged 13.
Sivo says his Dad called him last week to say that he and his Mum will come watch the grand final if they made it.
His father was confident he will see Sivo when Sivo called so now it’s about trying to get them over here as soon as possible.
Sivo says he’s so happy they want to come over and watch, and he will get the club to help organise it.
He says they don’t like to leave the village too much, especially mum.
He hasn’t been able to go home because of the border closures and injury last year.
Sivo’s life has changed remarkably in the three years since Joeli last surprised his son in August of that year when he first visited Australia.
The 28-year-old has gone on to become one of the most powerful wingers in the game with 67 tries in 82 games and made it a tradition for Eels fans to chant his name at CommBank Stadium.
He’s represented Fiji on three occasions while going through the roller-coaster of Luva's passing and ACL injury last season.
In March, he and partner Korina welcomed their first child, son Isaiah, into the world – creating another first for Sivo’s family this week to meet their grandson.
Sivo says when his dad came in 2019 he couldn’t believe it, he surprised him out of nowhere, and then when Gutho and the boys went to visit his village it meant a lot to him.
See the heartfelt moment Maika Sivo was reunited with his Dad, Joeli 💙💛
— NRL (@NRL) August 29, 2019
For Hardworking Dads, everywhere.@Vic_Bitter pic.twitter.com/8sAZdinkbB
He says having them at the grand final on Sunday will be amazing.
Sivo says all the boys are pumped, and they are excited.
Sivo will wait and see how usual centre partner Tom Opacic pulls up from a potential return from a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday's decider against his former club but has full faith in Bailey Simonsson to repeat his preliminary final efforts.
The Panthers will take on the Eels in the NRL Premiership Grand Final at 8.30pm Sunday.
[Source: NRL.com]
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