**<big>New deal firmly plants Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods for another three seasons</big>**
JAMES HOOPER THE DAILY TELEGRAPH FEBRUARY 09, 2014 12:00AM
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-prop-aaron-woods-has-resigned-with-the-wests-tigers-on-a-threeyear-contact/story-fni3gpz1-1226822338538
Aaron Woods during Wests Tigers training at Concord Oval, Sydney. Source: News Limited
THE Wests Tigers have beaten Manly for the signature of NSW Origin prop Aaron Woods with the club poised to announce a three-year deal with the local junior in the next week.
In a major coup for the newly-restructured Tigers board room, the retention of Woods is expected to trigger a host of other emerging stars also remaining at Concord as the Tigers re-build under coach Mick Potter.
Woods, 22, has virtually carried the Tigers pack single-handedly at stages of the past two seasons with an outstanding work rate for a relatively young front row forward.
Blessed with brilliant foot work and ball skills for a 109kg prop, Woods's signature will be viewed as a major victory for the Tigers considering the NSW Origin prop is a Leichhardt Juniors junior.
At one point the Tigers were locked in a bidding war with last year's grand finalists Manly, but The Sunday Telegraph understands the Sea Eagles raid has missed the mark. The retention of Woods means the Tigers maintain an impressive roster of emerging NRL talent, with the club's generation next of Luke Brooks, Curtis Sironen, James Tedesco, Tim Simona, David Nofoaluma and Nathan Brown all earmarked to provide coach Mick Potter with a quality balance of youth, enthusiasm and experience.
Woods, who has played 64 NRL games for the Tigers and was the club's 2012 player of the year, told The Sunday Telegraph he was excited about the current crop of players at Wests Tigers.
"I'm really enjoying my time at Wests Tigers and I'm excited about the talent that is coming through," Woods said. "A decision is not to too far away as I'm very keen to get it sorted before the start of the season.
"It's a tough decision to make, I've come through the local juniors at Leichhardt and the club has been great to me over the years. To be made part of the leadership group this year has been a real honour and I'm enjoying the opportunity to help some of the young guys in the squad.
"With Dene (Halatau) and Pat (Richards) coming back and Robbie (Farah) here we have a great group of leaders. I want to help some of the younger guys in the squad, especially young props like Browny (Nathan Brown) and Andy (Fiagatusa)."
Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer was tight-lipped when quizzed about Woods but The Sunday Telegraph has been told the Tigers are expected to make several major announcements over the course of the next week.
"I can understand that it's a tough decision for Aaron to make and as a State of Origin player he is in high demand," Mayer said.
"The club has made its intention clear and we believe that Aaron is a big part of our future."
JAMES HOOPER THE DAILY TELEGRAPH FEBRUARY 09, 2014 12:00AM
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-prop-aaron-woods-has-resigned-with-the-wests-tigers-on-a-threeyear-contact/story-fni3gpz1-1226822338538
Aaron Woods during Wests Tigers training at Concord Oval, Sydney. Source: News Limited
THE Wests Tigers have beaten Manly for the signature of NSW Origin prop Aaron Woods with the club poised to announce a three-year deal with the local junior in the next week.
In a major coup for the newly-restructured Tigers board room, the retention of Woods is expected to trigger a host of other emerging stars also remaining at Concord as the Tigers re-build under coach Mick Potter.
Woods, 22, has virtually carried the Tigers pack single-handedly at stages of the past two seasons with an outstanding work rate for a relatively young front row forward.
Blessed with brilliant foot work and ball skills for a 109kg prop, Woods's signature will be viewed as a major victory for the Tigers considering the NSW Origin prop is a Leichhardt Juniors junior.
At one point the Tigers were locked in a bidding war with last year's grand finalists Manly, but The Sunday Telegraph understands the Sea Eagles raid has missed the mark. The retention of Woods means the Tigers maintain an impressive roster of emerging NRL talent, with the club's generation next of Luke Brooks, Curtis Sironen, James Tedesco, Tim Simona, David Nofoaluma and Nathan Brown all earmarked to provide coach Mick Potter with a quality balance of youth, enthusiasm and experience.
Woods, who has played 64 NRL games for the Tigers and was the club's 2012 player of the year, told The Sunday Telegraph he was excited about the current crop of players at Wests Tigers.
"I'm really enjoying my time at Wests Tigers and I'm excited about the talent that is coming through," Woods said. "A decision is not to too far away as I'm very keen to get it sorted before the start of the season.
"It's a tough decision to make, I've come through the local juniors at Leichhardt and the club has been great to me over the years. To be made part of the leadership group this year has been a real honour and I'm enjoying the opportunity to help some of the young guys in the squad.
"With Dene (Halatau) and Pat (Richards) coming back and Robbie (Farah) here we have a great group of leaders. I want to help some of the younger guys in the squad, especially young props like Browny (Nathan Brown) and Andy (Fiagatusa)."
Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer was tight-lipped when quizzed about Woods but The Sunday Telegraph has been told the Tigers are expected to make several major announcements over the course of the next week.
"I can understand that it's a tough decision for Aaron to make and as a State of Origin player he is in high demand," Mayer said.
"The club has made its intention clear and we believe that Aaron is a big part of our future."
