Alvaro, Jennings to sit out Warriors match

Daniel Alvaro and George Jennings will sit out this weekend’s game against Parramatta.

Loan player George Jennings will sit out the Warriors clash against Eels Picture: Getty Images

Parramatta’s top four position is under siege and they are taking no chances heading into next Sunday’s game against the in-form Warriors. The Eels on Sunday confirmed loan pair George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro would be prevented from playing against their parent club, stripping the Warriors of two of their form players as they try to keep alive their own slim hopes of finals football.

The Warriors have won four of their five games involving Jennings and Alvaro, the latest a carve-up of Newcastle at the weekend. Jennings scored a try, ran for more than 180m and had six tackle busts.

Alvaro came off the interchange bench and ran for more than 100m. Their form has helped the Warriors put together a run of form that has the side on the cusp of the top eight and dramatically shortened the odds of coach Todd Payten being given the job in North Queensland.

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Payten is expected to be confirmed as Cowboys coach late this week. Second interviews were conducted with the short-listed candidates last week but Payten’s greatest advertisement for the job has been the form of the Warriors.

They dismantled the Knights at the weekend, the timing impeccable given the Cowboys have reached the pointy end of the process to replace Paul Green. It is understood the committee put together to select the club’s next head coach will talk on Monday before opening talks with their preferred option.

It would be a major surprise if that man was not Payten. His primary focus this week will be on getting the undermanned Warriors ready for a game that has put a strain on their resources after Jennings and Alvaro were removed from the equation. Parramatta put out a statement late on Sunday confirming that the pair would not be permitted to play.

“The Parramatta Eels can confirm that George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro will not be permitted to play against the Eels as per their loan agreement with the Warriors,” the statement said

“The agreement with the Warriors is a temporary arrangement with both George and Daniel considered to be part of the Eels 2020 squad meaning they can be recalled at anytime. The future of the arrangement will be discussed with the Warriors following the conclusion of the round 17 match.”

Even without Jennings and Alvaro, the Warriors will fancy their chances given the form of Parramatta over the past month. While the Warriors have been ultra-impressive under Payten, the Eels are battling and could be forced to play the remainder of the season without five-eighth Dylan Brown.

In his absence, the pressure is set to intensify on halfback Mitchell Moses, whose own form has been in the spotlight since he returned from injury.

Moses missed five tackles against South Sydney but there is a school of thought that he may benefit from being in sole charge of the Eels’ attack.

Coach Brad Arthur has options when it comes to Moses’ partner in the halves — he has used Jai Field this season but he has alternatives in Jordan Rankin and Brad Takairangi.