Aaron Woods says the Tigers have what it takes to make a return to finals footy in 2015
11 HOURS AGO FEBRUARY 07, 2015 12:00AM
BEARDED prop Aaron Woods helped NSW finally end an eight-year Origin drought against Queensland, but now he’s faced with an even more daunting task — trying to help the Wests Tigers return to finals footy.
While Woods enjoyed a wonderful season last year with a City, Blues and Kangaroos jumper coming his way, the Tigers early exit from the NRL premiership race clearly still frustrates him.
“Top eight, 100 per cent, that’s what I want for us,’’ Woods said.
“I’m sick of sitting around watching the finals. I want to play in them.
“We haven’t been there now since 2011\. It’s frustrating when you see the other teams running around, especially when you know you’ve beaten most of them through the year. That’s the main focus.’’
Woods is only 23, yet he’ll close in on 100 NRL games for the Tigers midway through this season, which makes him one of the leaders.
Tigers fans will swear it only felt like yesterday they watched the likes of Bryce Gibbs, Gareth Ellis, Todd Payten and a baby-faced Andrew Fifita all lead from the front, the last time they featured in September.
Woods is a real joker. He enjoys a laugh with his teammates. He plans on keeping the wild hair and beard, “because my missus hates it, which is another reason to keep it’’.
He knows his game can improve, and it’s Matt Scott who he sees as the benchmark.
“For the big games Matt Scott always lifts, and you never see him play a bad game,’’ Woods said.
“He always punches out 130m-plus, he’s really worked on his offload, and you never see him miss tackles. He’s the guy every front-rower wants to be like.’’
New Tigers coach Jason Taylor already has a proven record when it comes to posting immediate results at clubs. The Eels lost seven of their first nine matches in 2006, only for Taylor to turn the year around and get the club to the finals.
He did the same the following year with the Bunnies, who had finished with the wooden spoon the previous year.
But Taylor said there were no expectations at the Tigers, and added: “I don’t think anybody is sure where this team can get to this at this point.’’
One thing that had impressed Taylor was the camaraderie, which was pointed out to him by a player before he was officially pointed coach, and the “tightness of the group’’.
The TAB has the Tigers listed at $3.75 to make the eight, which is decent odds, especially if Woods can lead from the front, and playmakers Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks remain fit.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/aaron-woods-says-the-tigers-have-what-it-takes-to-make-a-return-to-finals-footy-in-2015/story-fndv39ms-1227210887811
11 HOURS AGO FEBRUARY 07, 2015 12:00AM
BEARDED prop Aaron Woods helped NSW finally end an eight-year Origin drought against Queensland, but now he’s faced with an even more daunting task — trying to help the Wests Tigers return to finals footy.
While Woods enjoyed a wonderful season last year with a City, Blues and Kangaroos jumper coming his way, the Tigers early exit from the NRL premiership race clearly still frustrates him.
“Top eight, 100 per cent, that’s what I want for us,’’ Woods said.
“I’m sick of sitting around watching the finals. I want to play in them.
“We haven’t been there now since 2011\. It’s frustrating when you see the other teams running around, especially when you know you’ve beaten most of them through the year. That’s the main focus.’’
Woods is only 23, yet he’ll close in on 100 NRL games for the Tigers midway through this season, which makes him one of the leaders.
Tigers fans will swear it only felt like yesterday they watched the likes of Bryce Gibbs, Gareth Ellis, Todd Payten and a baby-faced Andrew Fifita all lead from the front, the last time they featured in September.
Woods is a real joker. He enjoys a laugh with his teammates. He plans on keeping the wild hair and beard, “because my missus hates it, which is another reason to keep it’’.
He knows his game can improve, and it’s Matt Scott who he sees as the benchmark.
“For the big games Matt Scott always lifts, and you never see him play a bad game,’’ Woods said.
“He always punches out 130m-plus, he’s really worked on his offload, and you never see him miss tackles. He’s the guy every front-rower wants to be like.’’
New Tigers coach Jason Taylor already has a proven record when it comes to posting immediate results at clubs. The Eels lost seven of their first nine matches in 2006, only for Taylor to turn the year around and get the club to the finals.
He did the same the following year with the Bunnies, who had finished with the wooden spoon the previous year.
But Taylor said there were no expectations at the Tigers, and added: “I don’t think anybody is sure where this team can get to this at this point.’’
One thing that had impressed Taylor was the camaraderie, which was pointed out to him by a player before he was officially pointed coach, and the “tightness of the group’’.
The TAB has the Tigers listed at $3.75 to make the eight, which is decent odds, especially if Woods can lead from the front, and playmakers Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks remain fit.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/aaron-woods-says-the-tigers-have-what-it-takes-to-make-a-return-to-finals-footy-in-2015/story-fndv39ms-1227210887811
