Parramatta prop Daniel Alvaro's knee injury won't impact on his preparations for 2019 following the most consistent season of his NRL career.
The underrated Alvaro picked up Parramatta's Ken Thornett Medal on Tuesday night for the Eels' player of the season, after being a rare shining light in a dark year at the club.
Breakout season: Daniel Alvaro was named the Ken Thornett Medallist.
However, he has missed the final six games with a medial injury in his knee, after he nailed down a starting position for the first time and averaged a career-high 104 metres per game in 2017.
"I'm nearly good to go," Alvaro said.
"I just want to make sure it's right and good and 100 per cent for next year and the pre-season.
"We just didn't want to push it for the end of this year."
The 25-year-old's rise to Parramatta's player of the year is quite telling given the marquee talent still available in this year's likely wooden spooners.
A product of Brisbane's junior system, he also won the Eels' fans' player of the year this season, and will next season form part of a revitalised front row that will also include the returning Junior Paulo.
"A few boys joked about me (winning the award) but I didn't take it too seriously. I'm very surprised," he said.
"I've been working really hard on trying to be more consistent and doing my job week to week. Really looking forward to next year and trying to make up for this year.
"I'm really confident with what we've got here but I can't wait to play with Junes next year and the other signings we've got."
AAP
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