Davis, meanwhile, remains a mentor in his role as specialist kicking coach at the Roosters. The Swans’ 2005 premiership-winning forward has been working on Savala’s booming right boot, a weapon capable of turning a good set into a bad one or finding leaping wingers Daniel Tupou and Mark Nawaqanitawase when in the attacking zone.
“Hugo and I go back a fair way,” Davis said. “To play AFL, there would have to be a few changes in his body shape, but it was good to link back up with him again. He’s doing a good job. He’s a confident kid, and he’s got the right mix of being a young fella confident in what he does, but also keen to learn.
Hugo Savala’s booming boot would have been a weapon in the AFL.Credit: Getty
“He doesn’t overplay his hand, he’s super confident in what he is doing, and he’s also looking to learn. At this stage of his career, it’s a good place to be in.”
Currently on a development deal worth a reported $85,000, no one in the NRL has provided better value than Savala. He made his first-grade debut off the bench in round two, began filling in for the absent Sam Walker, and then held his spot in the halves once Walker returned from an ACL injury.
His breakthrough at NRL level is sure to have piqued the interest of England coach Shaun Wane, with Savala eligible for the Mother Country. Better still, the man dubbed “Fluffy” is open to the prospect of joining Roosters teammates Victor Radley and Billy Smith in pledging their allegiance to England ahead of the upcoming Kangaroos tour.
“If I ever got the opportunity, it would be great,” Savala said. “I’m eligible to play. My mum’s born in England and my dad’s Scottish, so they’re both born overseas.
Lola Savala, the sister of rising Roosters star Hugo Savala, is a talented AFL junior in the Sydney Swans system.Credit: Sydney Swans
“I’m obviously open, my family are from the UK and my grandparents and cousins live over there so it would be pretty cool. Of course, you want to strive for the country that you’ve been born and raised in, and that’s Australia. I’ve obviously got a lot of family over there, my dad and mum are from England, it could be pretty cool. I’d be open to it.”
Savala undoubtedly has a big future in the game, but it remains unclear what his role will be at the Roosters next season. There are big raps on young half Toby Rodwell, while Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is expected to shift to Bondi Junction, pushing him out of the halves.
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“I wouldn’t say it’s affected me at all,” Savala said. “I’ve just been looking forward to going week by week, just playing each game as it comes.
“This week I’m just focused on Cronulla and hopefully we can get the job done there.”
Asked about the prospect of learning from “DCE”, Savala said: “I guess so, but I’m not sure what’s gonna happen there. I’m not really looking too far ahead. I’m just focused on this week and whatever happens will happen.”
Savala spent the summer training in several positions, but halfback was not one of them.
“He’s had to grind and work so hard for his spot,” said teammate Angus Crichton.
“Last year in [NSW] Cup he was the back-up half for a lot of the season. In the preseason he was training at lock and centre, it wasn’t as a half at all because we had Chad [Townsend] and Sandon [Smith]. He had to bide his time and work really hard. He’s pretty unfazed, it’s a good sign as a young halfback.”
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