Leeds Rhinos’ top try scorer Maika Sivo is facing a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious arm injury in yesterday’s win against Bradford Bulls.

The Fijian international was injured making a tackle against Bradford’s Luke Hooley in the first half of the 42-12 success at Headingley, which lifted Leeds two points clear at the top of Betfred Super League.

His right arm was in a sling after the match and coach Brad Arthur confirmed: “He will have scans, but we’re probably looking at a broken forearm.”

Arthur stated: “If it is a broken forearm and it’s straight-forward they are telling me six weeks. We’ll get him back for the end of the season and it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up.”

Sivo has 31 tries in all competitions this year, 29 of those in Super League. The injury will effectively wreck his chances of setting a new competition record, beating the 40 try total achieved by Castleford Tigers’ Denny Solomona a decade ago.

Rhinos will also be without rookie forward Ben Littlewood after he was hurt in the first half of his full debut. “Ben will have a scan on his hamstring,” Arthur said. “He’s not going to be right in the next couple of weeks, but we don’t know how bad it is.”

Bradford went ahead when Guy Armitage did superbly to touch down from a Chris Atkin kick but Leeds hit back, despite the loss of Sivo, through James McDonnell.

Jake Connor had an effort ruled out for a double movement but he created a second for McDonnell and Jarrod O’Connor extended Leeds’ advantage to 18-6 at half-time.

Maika Sivo is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. (Photo: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

placeholder image — Maika Sivo is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. (Photo: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Bradford pulled one back after the break when Ethan Ryan claimed a high ball and exchanged passes with Atkin to cross but Leeds soon reasserted themselves.

A monster 40-20 kick from Connor paved the way for Tom Holroyd to burrow over and further tries from Brodie Croft, Cooper Jenkins and Kallum Watkins secured victory. Connor converted all seven tries.

“Plenty of guts, courage and resilience,” Arthur said. “I thought we were nice and tough, we were physical.

“We just got a little bit loose at times, a little bit impatient.

Bradford were well beaten in the end. (Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

“There’s a fair level of belief in how we attack but at times we can just push the boundaries a little bit far.”

Bradford coach Kurt Haggerty pinpointed Connor’s 40-20 kick as the game’s turning point.

He said: “It was pretty big moment from a classy player. Sometimes you can cop them.

“We could have been better with the ball but sometimes you just have to take your hat off, it was a pretty special moment.”

Leeds second-rower Chris Hankinson, who can play wing, will be available for this Friday’s visit of Toulouse Olympique after missing Sunday’s game due to concussion.

Winger Ryan Hall and centre Ash Handley (appendicitis) could be in contention for the following week’s huge top-three derby at Wakefield Trinity.