Maika Sivo’s days at the Parramatta Eels might be numbered after he threw away any hope of an upset win over Manly with an inexcusable brain fade.
In another game without injured halfback Mitchell Moses, it was always going to be an uphill battle against the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
It ultimately proved to be the case, with Manly running away with a 32-18 victory to edge into the top four midway through Round 8.
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But Parramatta came to play in the first half only to let the game slip after the half time break.
Sivo scored a first-half double and completed a hat-trick in the 66th minute, but a brain explosion soon after effectively threw the game away for his side.
After completing a tackle on Manly’s Reuben Garrick, Sivo felt the need to elbow his head and give his opponent an old fashioned ear massage.
It didn’t go unnoticed by referee Gerard Sutton, who immediately blew his whistle and upon seeing the replay, put Sivo on report and sent him to the sin bin.
Watch Maika Sivo’s brain fade in the video above
Sutton said the action was “totally unnecessary” and the commentators agreed.
Fox League’s Warren Smith said: “Worked the head there of Reuben Garrick. That is an absolute brain explosion.
“Given the emphasis on head contact and concussion in the modern game, that is crazy stuff from Maika Sivo. This could be the game.”
Cooper Cronk added: “Silly, stupid from Sivo. If Maika Sivo has shown any intent with high contract, he could be in real trouble.”
Ironically, it was Garrick who immediately scored two tries down Manly’s right edge following Sivo’s sin bin to put the result beyond doubt.
It was Parramatta’s second sin bin of the game after Will Penisini was penalised for a professional foul for tackling Tom Trbojevic without the ball as the Manly fullback chased down a kick.
The Eels gave away eight penalties in the second half.
Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson summed it up best: “That was another second-half horror show from Parramatta.”
Sivo missed the start of the Eels’ season when he was banned for three matches after a high shot on Gold Coast’s AJ Brimson in the pre-season.
Eels coach Brad Arthur dropped the 30-year-old Fijian winger despite scoring two tries in a loss to the Raiders earlier this month and his return to Parramatta’s first grade team couldn’t have ended in worse fashion.
The Eels currently sit 14th on the ladder.