Blues forward Aaron Woods is nearing a complete recovery from an ankle injury
May 7, 2016 10:05pm
DAVID RICCIO
The Sunday Telegraph
HERE’S some news that will put a smile on the face of NSW coach Laurie Daley.
Wests Tigers captain and influential Blues forward Aaron Woods is nearing a complete recovery from an ankle injury and could return to the NRL next weekend.
As Daley contemplates life without Sydney Roosters and NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce, Daley can rest easy in Woods’ confidence that he’ll be fit for Origin I at ANZ Stadium on June 1.
Having missed the past four weeks for the Tigers, Woods is up and running and is planning a full-blown contact session this week where he hopes to receive the green light to return against Canterbury next Sunday.
“I did running last week, I’ll do a bit of skills and then I’ll do all the team stuff next week and if I get through that, I’m a massive chance of playing,’’ Woods said.
“We’ve just got to test it out next week with the contact and see how it pulls up.
“I just want to make sure I feel confident.
“It would be outstanding (to return against Canterbury), but if worse comes to worse, I’ll be back against Newcastle.
Despite the original diagnosis suggesting the injury could take up to eight weeks to recover, Woods said he was always confident that provided he applied himself to his recovery, he could be back sooner rather than later.
Should he return against the Bulldogs, Woods would meet his close mate from the Blues head-on, Canterbury prop David Klemmer.
“I use to stress about injuries, but now I know if I do that I’m only going to be in a bad head space, so you’ve just got to deal with what it is,’’ Woods said.
“I was pretty lucky, they said anything between four to eight weeks and if I look after it, I’ll be back earlier and if not, it will be a long eight weeks.
“This weekend has been four weeks. But our physio (Peter Moussa) has been great, allowing me to take the rehab machines home and it’s been 24/7 recovery pretty much.’’
Asked if he feared the recovery time of the injury would cost him a spot in Daley’s NSW 17, Woods admitted: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t.
“But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to get the body right first.
“There’s no point hurting yourself in the first minute and letting everyone down.
“That’s the thing that Laurie has brought to the side that’s really good. You’ve got to be honest, if he’s going to pick you.
“He’s all about loyalty, but you’ve got to show a bit of faith back.”
Woods’ return would prove an obvious boost to the Tigers who sealed, what the club captain described as “the most courageous win he’s seen at the club” against South Sydney 10-days ago.
“They showed a stack of character and that’s something we plan to use going forward,’’ Woods said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/tigers/blues-forward-aaron-woods-is-nearing-a-complete-recovery-from-an-ankle-injury/news-story/290ebda27065550c659bb04eef809275
May 7, 2016 10:05pm
DAVID RICCIO
The Sunday Telegraph
HERE’S some news that will put a smile on the face of NSW coach Laurie Daley.
Wests Tigers captain and influential Blues forward Aaron Woods is nearing a complete recovery from an ankle injury and could return to the NRL next weekend.
As Daley contemplates life without Sydney Roosters and NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce, Daley can rest easy in Woods’ confidence that he’ll be fit for Origin I at ANZ Stadium on June 1.
Having missed the past four weeks for the Tigers, Woods is up and running and is planning a full-blown contact session this week where he hopes to receive the green light to return against Canterbury next Sunday.
“I did running last week, I’ll do a bit of skills and then I’ll do all the team stuff next week and if I get through that, I’m a massive chance of playing,’’ Woods said.
“We’ve just got to test it out next week with the contact and see how it pulls up.
“I just want to make sure I feel confident.
“It would be outstanding (to return against Canterbury), but if worse comes to worse, I’ll be back against Newcastle.
Despite the original diagnosis suggesting the injury could take up to eight weeks to recover, Woods said he was always confident that provided he applied himself to his recovery, he could be back sooner rather than later.
Should he return against the Bulldogs, Woods would meet his close mate from the Blues head-on, Canterbury prop David Klemmer.
“I use to stress about injuries, but now I know if I do that I’m only going to be in a bad head space, so you’ve just got to deal with what it is,’’ Woods said.
“I was pretty lucky, they said anything between four to eight weeks and if I look after it, I’ll be back earlier and if not, it will be a long eight weeks.
“This weekend has been four weeks. But our physio (Peter Moussa) has been great, allowing me to take the rehab machines home and it’s been 24/7 recovery pretty much.’’
Asked if he feared the recovery time of the injury would cost him a spot in Daley’s NSW 17, Woods admitted: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t.
“But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to get the body right first.
“There’s no point hurting yourself in the first minute and letting everyone down.
“That’s the thing that Laurie has brought to the side that’s really good. You’ve got to be honest, if he’s going to pick you.
“He’s all about loyalty, but you’ve got to show a bit of faith back.”
Woods’ return would prove an obvious boost to the Tigers who sealed, what the club captain described as “the most courageous win he’s seen at the club” against South Sydney 10-days ago.
“They showed a stack of character and that’s something we plan to use going forward,’’ Woods said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/tigers/blues-forward-aaron-woods-is-nearing-a-complete-recovery-from-an-ankle-injury/news-story/290ebda27065550c659bb04eef809275
