Daniel Alvaro on The Big Sports Breakfast
This time last year was a very different story for the Parramatta Eels.
The Blue and Gold were zip from four games, and staring down the barrel of a season to forget.
12 months later and the Eels have won three from four and they’re fifth on the NRL ladder.
Speaking to The Big Sports Breakfast, prop Daniel Alvaro said there’s a good feeling in the team.
“A week is a lot better after a win, I tell you what,” Alvaro said.
“It was pretty dark days last year. Just kind of puts you in a bad mood all week and chips away at your confidence and drags on. This year is just a much better feel and the vibe is better,” he said.
With the youngest spine in the game has come enthusiasm, and plenty of it.
But most importantly the squad has an obvious want to win attitude.
“It’s just the drive of everyone since last year, to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The way everyone came into pre-season … everyone has wanted to buy in and the attitude has been unreal so it’s all just on the back of that I think,” Alvaro said.
“It was a really tough pre season and all the hard work just gave us the confidence going into the first couple of games and then when we got the result straight away we just kept rolling off that,” he said.
The Eels will travel to Canberra this weekend for their Round Five clash against the Raiders on Sunday night.
They’ll be looking to better their 5th place ladder position.
Alvaro told The Big Sports Breakfast coach Brad Arthur has played a big role in the team’s turnaround and they’re committed to regaining their fan’s confidence.
“He led that attitude coming into pre-season … of making sure it (last year’s performance) never happens again. He has been great, really controlling the attitude of the team and making it really simple for us and it’s coming together nicely.”
The Eels play their first home game at the new Bankwest Stadium the following round on Easter Monday (22 April) against Wests Tigers.
To hear Daniel Alvaro’s full interview on The Big Sports Breakfast, listen above.
