Door ajar for Parra pair to stay with Warriors into finals series

The door has not closed on Eels pair Daniel Alvaro and George Jennings extending their stay at the Warriors into the NRL finals.

Of course that's on the assumption that the Warriors make it, as they sit in 10th spot, two wins out of the top eight with three club rounds remaining.

The Eels are already safely ensconced in finals football and have developed a co-operative relationship with the Warriors.

The respect is mutual - Alvaro and Jennings, clad in Warriors gear, sat out the round 17 match against Parramatta in Gosford on Sunday, watching from the players' box on the sidelines.

Alvaro said he was keen to play out the 2020 season with the Warriors, who could sneak into the finals if they beat the Sharks on Sunday and keep winning while Cronulla and Wests Tigers also stumble in the last two rounds.

"Definitely, I would love to keep helping and trying to do my bit," Alvaro told NRL.com.

The finals present a slightly different scenario if the Warriors force their way in.

"I can’t look that far," he said. "I just take it day by day, week by week and see what happens.

"All I really want is just to be able to play some footy."

Both he and Jennings have now played five games and have been involved in all four wins since round 12.

The emotions were mixed watching the Eels beat the Warriors 24-18 on Sunday.

"It was just a good game of footy to watch. I actually hate sitting on the sidelines – I always want to play – but it is what it is," Alvaro said.

Eels coach Brad Arthur is very supportive of the pair remaining in the Warriors hub in Terrigal and getting some games.

Alvaro has figured in his 17-man line-up only once this year, in round seven. Jennings has also played one game in Parramatta colours - the loss to Manly in round 10.

"The Warriors want them so I just need to have a look how we pull up after this [Warriors] match and make a decision," Arthur told NRL.com

Warriors coach Todd Payten has his fingers crossed Alvaro and Jennings stay at least for the final three club games.

"We expect them to come back but that may change if Parramatta have any injuries from that game," he said.

"We’ve shown that we can beat the top sides with what we’ve got. This week becomes a pretty big game if we’re talking finals."

As far as finals go, those Payten fingers are still crossed – maybe a couple of toes as well.

"I can understand Parra wanting to call them back – we’re only three weeks out from the finals. If you want to prep well having more numbers certainly helps.

"But I’m hopeful that we can keep them."