Hugo Savala has openly declared he wants to be Trent Robinson's long-term halfback as his dazzling start to life in the NRL raised fresh questions over the Sydney Roosters' pursuit of Daly Cherry-Evans.
Savala revealed after a standout performance in Saturday's win over Cronulla how the advice of Sydney Swans premiership winner Nick Davis and league great Cooper Cronk had helped him find his groove just nine games into his NRL career.
The 23-year-old's rapid rise led NRL Immortal Andrew Johns to question why the Roosters would bother pursuing Manly captain Cherry-Evans, who will be 37 by the time the 2026 NRL season comes around.
Johns argued on the Nine Network on Sunday that Savala and Sandon Smith - along with Sam Walker, who is due to return from knee surgery in the next month - were all bona fide NRL playmakers.
Savala's agent has previously declared he would explore a loan deal for his client if Cherry-Evans lands at Bondi next season.
The homegrown talent's large frame - Savala is 193cm tall - would lead many to suggest he could retrain as a utility back but he claims he is a halfback through and through.
Diplomatically dancing around his club's pursuit of Cherry-Evans, Savala said: "I've always been a halfback since growing up.
"When I was 19, I probably started growing a lot taller. I'd always been a smaller sort of player which is why I was a halfback, but now I've grown taller, I've got that same skillset.
"I love the Roosters, I want to stay here, I'm a halfback. I know I'm an NRL halfback.
"I haven't really thought too much about it (Cherry-Evans' potential arrival), I'm just trying to play the best football I can for the Sydney Roosters. I love this club."
Savala started and finished a brilliant long-range Roosters try last weekend, but it was his kicking game which caused the Sharks the most torment.
Three of his bombs led to tries, including two identical kicks that were controlled and put down by Daniel Tupou.
"I felt as if I was in control of the game and in control of the boys," Savala said.
"We've had six months coming up to this point, and our kicking coaches are Nick Davis and Cooper Cronk. They're the best you can learn off.
"I'm just all ears with them in training, learning every week off them.
"I did play a little bit of AFL when I was younger, which maybe helps.
"I was in the Swans academy until I was 14 or 15. I was ruck rover ... picking up the scraps and playing a bit of rugby league in the AFL space."
