The Greatly Underrated Aaron Woods

[jirskyr]

I don't think Woods is underrated. In fact, I think he has a prominence (SOO starting prop) and position (Captain WT) that is flattering for him by comparison to other props in the game.

He is great at what his strengths are, that is; honest, solid, committed carrying the ball up - with the usual step at the line, drive with the legs, pivot to go ass first through the ruck and occasional offload. He is tireless in defence and as brave as anyone out there. But, that's it. And, if he didn't have (C) beside his name, I would rate him more highly.

This is sarcasm, right? I can't quite figure out what you mean.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

I don't think Woods is underrated. In fact, I think he has a prominence (SOO starting prop) and position (Captain WT) that is flattering for him by comparison to other props in the game.

He is great at what his strengths are, that is; honest, solid, committed carrying the ball up - with the usual step at the line, drive with the legs, pivot to go ass first through the ruck and occasional offload. He is tireless in defence and as brave as anyone out there. But, that's it. And, if he didn't have (C) beside his name, I would rate him more highly.

This is sarcasm, right? I can't quite figure out what you mean.

He is saying that woodsy is not the best captain therefore it takes away from Aaron's overall rating by having the C after his name. They have gone well now for about 6 weeks so seems okay as capt, as long as he keeps listening to Mitch on field. Whereas Robbie did not listen to anyone - not sure how far it got him though.

 

[stevied]

I agree, he is tireless in defense and he is a handful to pull down once he gets rolling. However, as I've said before, I'd really like to see him run hard, fast and straight with a quick play the ball at the end of it. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to lope up, get involved in an upright wrestle that gives the opposition defense time to set and then play the ball slowly. To be quite honest I prefer Grant or Sue's charges as they bend the line and show far more aggression.

 

[larrycorowa]

Some of you blokes are fair dinkum unbelievable. He attracts 3-4 defenders each run, manages +150m and makes +30 tackles week in week out. I'm not sure what you are after from him. 4 tries with one from a chip and chase? He is not Jarryd Hayne but Jarryd hayne couldn't do the stuff he does either.

 

[stevied]

Sorry but your reaction is unbelievable larry. We are all entitled to our opinion. I've acknowledged his strengths i.e. tireless defender and strong physically. However, I've also pointed out his lack of speed and line bending ability. A forward's effectiveness is not merely measured by his stats and no one is comparing Woods to Jarryd Hayne. The comparison I used was with Grant and Sue, a far more realistic parallel….

 

[gallagher]

I agree, he is tireless in defense and he is a handful to pull down once he gets rolling. However, as I've said before, I'd really like to see him run hard, fast and straight with a quick play the ball at the end of it. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to lope up, get involved in an upright wrestle that gives the opposition defense time to set and then play the ball slowly. To be quite honest I prefer Grant or Sue's charges as they bend the line and show far more aggression.

I think you need both styles of props, ones that just bash into the opposition and ones that can play before and through the line. Woods reminds me a lot of Steve Price.
But, yes, sometimes you wanna just scream at him just to run hard.

 

[Nelson]

Sorry but your reaction is unbelievable larry. We are all entitled to our opinion. I've acknowledged his strengths i.e. tireless defender and strong physically. However, I've also pointed out his lack of speed and line bending ability. A forward's effectiveness is not merely measured by his stats and no one is comparing Woods to Jarryd Hayne. The comparison I used was with Grant and Sue, a far more realistic parallel….

He's just not that sort of prop, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. He stands in tackles and makes a couple of extra metres while drawing defenders looking to shut down any offload. He often attracts 3-4 defenders and will manage to stay on his feet. Only 2 of those defenders can stay at marker and the other 1-2 have to retreat upon tackle completion. His time between tackle completion and PTB when standing is quick (because he's already on his feet), meaning there are 1-2 defenders offside and backpedaling behind the ruck. It may not look as glamorous as the hard charge and quick PTB but it's still an effective way to open up space in a defensive line.

 

[Fumbles]

Has anyone ever had a bad word to say about Woodsy? It can't be very easy for him being mates with Farah but he has shown that he is a great leader and one who the players obviously respond to.

 

[Geo]

Woods has never been an enforcer or the sort of Prop who just charges..He is workman like churning out metres and a more than solid defender…

What has impressed me the most this Year is that his leadership has grown leaps and bounds since around Origin time....A month ago Woods bought the whole playing group together for some 'home truth sessions'...the results on the field speak for themselves...

Would not swap him for any Prop in the game...

 

[stevied]

I do agree that he is becoming a more active and vocal captain. He is obviously growing in confidence in that role.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

There was a story going around a while ago that he only saw it as a job. The passion he showed in the post match huddle would go against that. He's really won me over in the last few weeks as the guy to captain this side.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Not a slate on Farah, but perhaps while he was in the side there Woods was reluctant to take control out of respect?

I believe that since Farah hasn't been there he's really taken it on with some passion and respect.

 

[VanillaThunder]

He's one of the very best props in the game for a variety of reasons. Captain of our club and first picked for his state and country. It bemuses me that he gets a fair bit of stick on here to be honest. Outside of Tedesco, he's our greatest asset.

I'll have to respectfully disagree there mate. Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Inglis, Scott and Hayne (when he's back at the level everyone expects) would probably be the first 6 names the national selectors pull out. As for state, I'm not convinced he's NSW's best option. Tamou always plays well in SoO and I think Merrin and Fifita are both better front row prospects (I know Merrin prefers lock but a back row of Cordner, Jackson and Frizell would serve NSW well for plenty more years to come.
He's a very good player, no doubt, and he definitely ranks among our best, but I'd have him in the tier just below the elite props in the comp (Scott, Graham, Browmich).

 

[Nelson]

He's one of the very best props in the game for a variety of reasons. Captain of our club and first picked for his state and country. It bemuses me that he gets a fair bit of stick on here to be honest. Outside of Tedesco, he's our greatest asset.

I'll have to respectfully disagree there mate. Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Inglis, Scott and Hayne (when he's back at the level everyone expects) would probably be the first 6 names the national selectors pull out. As for state, I'm not convinced he's NSW's best option. Tamou always plays well in SoO and I think Merrin and Fifita are both better front row prospects (I know Merrin prefers lock but a back row of Cordner, Jackson and Frizell would serve NSW well for plenty more years to come.
He's a very good player, no doubt, and he definitely ranks among our best, but I'd have him in the tier just below the elite props in the comp (Scott, Graham, Browmich).

Tamou does not always play well in origin, he's had a number of terrible games at that level including this year.

Personally Woods and Klemmer would be the first two props I'd pick for NSW. After them it would probably be form dependent out of Fifita, Ryan James, James Tamou and Leilani Latu.

 

[ricksen]

I was speaking specifically as a prop - he's clearly NSW's best option, and Australia's best at the moment as well.

 

[stevetiger]

There was a story going around a while ago that he only saw it as a job. The passion he showed in the post match huddle would go against that. He's really won me over in the last few weeks as the guy to captain this side.

I keep reading on here about how he is a dud captain. I personally had and still have concerns we are overpaying him based on what he offers but recently I think he has showed how good he can be and that he is worth good money. I reckon his captaincy has been great. The team are playing well, discipline is good and we look like we are playing with a lot of energy.

 

[stevetiger]

He's one of the very best props in the game for a variety of reasons. Captain of our club and first picked for his state and country. It bemuses me that he gets a fair bit of stick on here to be honest. Outside of Tedesco, he's our greatest asset.

I'll have to respectfully disagree there mate. Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Inglis, Scott and Hayne (when he's back at the level everyone expects) would probably be the first 6 names the national selectors pull out. As for state, I'm not convinced he's NSW's best option. Tamou always plays well in SoO and I think Merrin and Fifita are both better front row prospects (I know Merrin prefers lock but a back row of Cordner, Jackson and Frizell would serve NSW well for plenty more years to come.
He's a very good player, no doubt, and he definitely ranks among our best, but I'd have him in the tier just below the elite props in the comp (Scott, Graham, Browmich).

This is how I have judged him in the past but recently including the SOO I think he has shown that he is up there with the elite props in the game. He works hard and consistently gets metres. He also defends well and doesn't make many mistakes. Those attributes put him up there with the quality props but he also has less down side than some players like Fifita for instance. Fifita busts teams up but he makes mistakes and isn't as consistent throughout the game. Woods also has some skill in his game ala Graham. Graham is better but Woods isn't far behind. I don't think any other prop has that skill-set.