A week ago, new Warriors loan player Daniel Alvaro was focused on earning a spot back in high-flying Parramatta Eels squad.
But seven days is a long time in sport - even more so during a cornavirus pandemic - and now the 27-year-old Australian prop is excited to contribute to a squad in desperate need of reinforcements.
Alvaro and Eels teammate George Jennings have joined the Warriors squad in Gosford, just a day after four home-sick players - Ken Maumalo, David Fusitua, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa - departed.
Alvaro's played 88 games for the Eels since making his debut in 2015, but has struggled for game-time in 2020, after the arrival of Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
His talent and work-rate have been lauded by coach Brad Arthur, and he should provide the beleaguered NZ club with hard-running bite up front.
Alvaro says the move to the Warriors has come out of leftfield, so he had to get sign-off from home before saying yes.
"They [Eels] asked if I was interested in the Warriors move," Alvaro reveals. "I definitely was, but I had to check with my wife if it was all good with her.
"She was stoked I'd get the chance to play some footy."
Alvaro's only first-grade action this season was a seven-minute cameo against Canberra Raiders last month, so he heads to the Warriors a little underdone.
But the New South Welshman says he always thought a loan move might be on the cards, so he kept training hard and pushing those in front of him.
"It’s strange times and kind of hard, because you want to play some footy.
"It did come up in my mind earlier, but at the same time, I still wanted to play for Parramatta, so I stayed where I was.
"But when the opportunity came up, I grabbed it with both hands. At the end of the day, I’m really happy to play some footy finally and try to help these guys out as well."
Alvaro is raring to go for Friday night's clash with Wests Tigers, if selected by his new coach, Todd Payten. The squad for that match will be announced on Tuesday and the new recruits will have had two training runs with the club.
Nothing has been guaranteed by the Warriors in terms of game-time, but Alvaro is confident he will adapt quickly to a new environment.
"It’s still early in the week, but I’m ready to go and happy to do whatever he wants me to do.
"Most teams would have a similar shape, so I’ve had to learn all the calls and work out the timings of different plays.
"I’m pretty confident we can get it sorted."
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