Rumours and Stuff

[IFR33K]

I don't think so.

He's inconsistent, but he's usually one of the Tigers' most dangerous players.

At the moment, he's the only attacking threat for the Tigers (in terms of kicking), and it's simpler to shut him down.

Let's not forget we have a far superior forward pack to there's. The room we'll create for him will mean we will be dangerous both sides of the ruck.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Alvaro was essential?
The 4th prop. Need 4 props in the rotation. Vave is a meter eater, so needs a tackling workhorse as his rotation partner. Enter Alvaro.

If Alvaro isnt there, no biggie, but needs to be a middle guy and not a backup hooker.

Beau Scott is the least essential guy on the bench (of those who played last night)

Scott and Moeroa in the middle can cover for Vave.

 

[Delboy]

Fair enough, you've watched more games than myself.
But from what I've seen potential wise, I'd rather sign Twal long term (20 yo) than guys like Obrien and Alvaro.

You're kidding re Twal over Alvaro

He may come good, but isn't the player Alvaro was at that age, suggest you leave Twal to mature for at least another year as he needs to get a bit heavier and stronger. Good young player, but not at NRL level yet whereas Alvaro holds his own and more . Alvaro is only 22 so still young for a prop

 

[Poupou Escobar]

“Everyone has a point of view — they all come from different places. What is the reality?"

FFS Casper

 

[Poupou Escobar]

There must be someone in Wenty who would do a little better than Alvaro. Even against a tired Cowboys pack he was dominated and we looked vulnerable midway through that second half.

Alvaro undoubtedly tries hard, but I'd be willing to give someone like Twal a shot.
There's no doubt Twal will overtake Alvaro.

Vave is getting back to his barnstorming 2016 form. Loving him.

Alvaro is in the team for his defence. 21 tackles in 18 minutes is awesome. He made the same number of tackles as Matagi made in 43 minutes.

 

[emjaycee]

Scott and Moeroa in the middle can cover for Vave.

Maybe in defence but not in attack.
Round 9: 27 mins, 11 runs, 127 metres
Round 8: 20 mins, 7 runs, 75 metres
Round 7: 28 mins, 9 runs, 104 metres

Average: 25 mins, 9 runs, 102 metres

(nrl.com) so may be not accurate.

 

[chiefy1]

Alvaro is in the team for his defence. 21 tackles in 18 minutes is awesome. He made the same number of tackles as Matagi made in 43 minutes.

Maybe people like running at him.

 

[Bazal]

Alvaro is in the team for his defence. 21 tackles in 18 minutes is awesome. He made the same number of tackles as Matagi made in 43 minutes.

And he can make quality metres when required. Before Scott went to the bench and changes our interchange rotation Alvaro was averaging over 100M in just over half an hour on the field

He came on when we were getting caned in the penalty count last night and the cows had all the momentum, so he was tackling everything that moved. All muppets like Fanbase....I mean chiefy see is flair or no flair

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Alvaro is great player. Will be a straight replacement for Mannah when he retires as both a player in the team and the front rower who gets canned on here for being solid and dependable

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's been copping it because he has been terrible the last couple of weeks and people have short memories.

Exactly

 

[Bazal]

Alvaro is great player. Will be a straight replacement for Mannah when he retires as both a player in the team and the front rower who gets canned on here for being solid and dependable

Yeah pretty much. He'll be our starting prop in a few years making 120m a game but because it's not off 8 runs people will say he's shit

 

[Kornstar]

What the f**k is wrong with Alvaro???

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Fair enough, you've watched more games than myself.
But from what I've seen potential wise, I'd rather sign Twal long term (20 yo) than guys like Obrien and Alvaro.

It all depends on price. Signing a guy 'long term' is a risk when you don't know how good he'll be by the end of the contract. Alvaro is only 24 this year and we already know how good he is. Even if he was signed for six years (highly unlikely) we would know how good he would be by the end of that period. O'Brien is 28 in June so of course you wouldn't sign him long term. Given he is only backup quality, when he starts to decline (usually shortly after 30) he will stop being backup quality and thus not worth a roster spot.

Twal is a bit of an unknown. I was impressed with his form in the couple of Wenty games I've seen, but he still looks a bit undersized. He is only 21 this year though, so he has a lot of improvement left in him. How long until he is NRL ready though? I dare say he will end up with another NRL contract somewhere next year, probably with us.

But so far Alvaro is the only one of the three who is contracted for 2018.

 

[Bazal]

You're kidding re Twal over Alvaro

He may come good, but isn't the player Alvaro was at that age, suggest you leave Twal to mature for at least another year as he needs to get a bit heavier and stronger. Good young player, but not at NRL level yet whereas Alvaro holds his own and more . Alvaro is only 22 so still young for a prop

Agreed. At this stage Twal is just a smaller Alvaro. Big ticker, hard worker, quality defender who takes plenty of the tough runs but it's his first full season out of 20s and it shows.

I really rate him though....he's 103kg at 20 years old and importantly he's a very mature guy. He reminds me of Cayless and Mannah actually. As you say, give him a season or so to bulk up and get used to playing against more physical footballers and he'll be a very good prop IMO. But to suggest picking him over Alvaro now shows an absolute lack of knowledge.

 

[RazorRam0n]

I like Alvaro and the role he fills, but if he's our leading prop as mannah has been we're in massive trouble. Getting 120 a game is far less than what mannah has delivered at his best, and I doubt he's capable of even that on a week in week out basis, his best role is complementing a better front row partner.

Expecting him to lead the pack is a lot like some of the expectations of Dave gower when he first arrived. He was pleasantly surprising because he was above reserve grade level, but not even close to being a productive starter

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maybe in defence but not in attack.
Round 9: 27 mins, 11 runs, 127 metres
Round 8: 20 mins, 7 runs, 75 metres
Round 7: 28 mins, 9 runs, 104 metres

Average: 25 mins, 9 runs, 102 metres

(nrl.com) so may be not accurate.

That's my point. Vave is in the team for his attack. He is our best go-forward prop. He doesn't work hard in defence (and we don't need him to) which is why he needs his mates to cover for him. Hence Scott and Moeroa.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Maybe people like running at him.

Players don't get much choice where they run. Especially for middle forwards they are directed to play the ball at a point somewhere across the field to set up the next play.

 

[Bazal]

I like Alvaro and the role he fills, but if he's our leading prop as mannah has been we're in massive trouble. Getting 120 a game is far less than what mannah has delivered at his best, and I doubt he's capable of even that on a week in week out basis, his best role is complementing a better front row partner.

Expecting him to lead the pack is a lot like some of the expectations of Dave gower when he first arrived. He was pleasantly surprising because he was above reserve grade level, but not even close to being a productive starter

Who said anything about leading the pack? He will fill Mannah's role as a starting prop. Nathan Brown or someone yet to be mentioned/signed will be the pack leader.

Mannah averages 105m this season, 106m last season, 120 in 2015 and 125 in 2014 so your comment that 120m a game is far less than Mannah is quite comfortably off the mark too.

 

[RazorRam0n]

Who said anything about leading the pack? He will fill Mannah's role as a starting prop. Nathan Brown or someone yet to be mentioned/signed will be the pack leader.

Mannah averages 105m this season, 106m last season, 120 in 2015 and 125 in 2014 so your comment that 120m a game is far less than Mannah is quite comfortably off the mark too.

To compare to mannah you have to be comparing to the pack leader which mannah has carried throughout his career under appreciated.

Mannah might have been averaging 120 but he was putting up 150-160s in those numbers. For Alvaro to average 120, he would need to do similar which I can't see happening. Don't mind seeing him prove me wrong, but even still he doesn't bend the line like mannah did early in his career, that's what we need from a pack leader (whilst running 120-150 average per game)

 

[Eelementary]

I like Alvaro and the role he fills, but if he's our leading prop as mannah has been we're in massive trouble. Getting 120 a game is far less than what mannah has delivered at his best, and I doubt he's capable of even that on a week in week out basis, his best role is complementing a better front row partner.

Expecting him to lead the pack is a lot like some of the expectations of Dave gower when he first arrived. He was pleasantly surprising because he was above reserve grade level, but not even close to being a productive starter

I don't agree with that - Gower is quality, imo.

He's just unlucky that he's behind a very good pack of forwards.