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Wests Tigers enforcer Aaron Woods has defied call that he would never play again
Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods is back on track after his career was at the crossroads. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THE surgeon's worst-case scenario whacked Aaron Woods harder than anything Queensland enforcers Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday or Nate Myles might dish out come State of Origin time this season.
Woods is the Wests Tigers young gun who Peter Sterling was calling to be picked for Australia in the Anzac Test.
Blessed with the footwork of a five-eighth and the physical presence of Balmain legend Blocker Roach, this 109kg, 1.94m front-rower has a lethal combination of speed, size and football instincts.
Ricky Stuart thought enough of Woods, now 23, to twice make him the Blues' 18th man during last year's Origin series and the way he's started this year with the Tigers will make it hard for Laurie Daley to leave him out come Origin I.
But to really understand the the rise of the Leichhardt Wanderers junior, you have to go back three years - just after the Tigers had won the 2009 under-20s premiership - when a surgeon told him his career was over before it had even begun.
With the tendon in one of his hamstrings completely ripped off the bone, the doctor told Woods to forget about trying to become a professional rugby league player.
"The doctor tried to tell me I'd never be able to run at the elite level again. He actually told me I might as well go and start looking for a real job," Woods said. "To say I was filthy would be an understatement. It was a big reality check and it made me a lot tougher with how I've got to treat my body.
"I tore the tendon off the bone and it was bloody frustrating.
"I couldn't do anything rehab-wise. They wanted me to just do nothing on my legs. All I could do was upper body weights but then it came to a point where I couldn't even bench press because it was putting stress on my hamstrings."
Woods was one of the first players picked by City coach Brad Fittler for today's clash in Coffs Harbour until a knee injury ruled him out.
Aside from Kangaroo and Cowboys prop James Tamou being a certainty for one NSW front-row position, the other is still well and truly up for grabs. Pushing Paul Gallen up front is one option, while Woods, St George Illawarra's Trent Merrin, Blues incumbent Tim Grant, Cronulla's Andrew Fifita and Gold Coast's Ryan James are all pressing claims for a jumper.
Not only has Woods overcome an injury doctors tried to tell him could end his career, he turned a 6-8 week lateral meninscus tear into a two and a half week injury at the start of this year.
Given the Tigers were without front-rowers Keith Galloway, Matt Groat and James Gavet after round one - his speedy recovery was imperative.
Tigers coach Mick Potter reckons Woods will hold his own if the Blues decide to give him a crack against Queensland.
"His contribution to us has been enormous and valuable to the team," Potter said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-enforcer-aaron-woods-has-defied-call-that-he-would-never-play-again/story-e6frexs9-1226625129915
Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods is back on track after his career was at the crossroads. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THE surgeon's worst-case scenario whacked Aaron Woods harder than anything Queensland enforcers Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday or Nate Myles might dish out come State of Origin time this season.
Woods is the Wests Tigers young gun who Peter Sterling was calling to be picked for Australia in the Anzac Test.
Blessed with the footwork of a five-eighth and the physical presence of Balmain legend Blocker Roach, this 109kg, 1.94m front-rower has a lethal combination of speed, size and football instincts.
Ricky Stuart thought enough of Woods, now 23, to twice make him the Blues' 18th man during last year's Origin series and the way he's started this year with the Tigers will make it hard for Laurie Daley to leave him out come Origin I.
But to really understand the the rise of the Leichhardt Wanderers junior, you have to go back three years - just after the Tigers had won the 2009 under-20s premiership - when a surgeon told him his career was over before it had even begun.
With the tendon in one of his hamstrings completely ripped off the bone, the doctor told Woods to forget about trying to become a professional rugby league player.
"The doctor tried to tell me I'd never be able to run at the elite level again. He actually told me I might as well go and start looking for a real job," Woods said. "To say I was filthy would be an understatement. It was a big reality check and it made me a lot tougher with how I've got to treat my body.
"I tore the tendon off the bone and it was bloody frustrating.
"I couldn't do anything rehab-wise. They wanted me to just do nothing on my legs. All I could do was upper body weights but then it came to a point where I couldn't even bench press because it was putting stress on my hamstrings."
Woods was one of the first players picked by City coach Brad Fittler for today's clash in Coffs Harbour until a knee injury ruled him out.
Aside from Kangaroo and Cowboys prop James Tamou being a certainty for one NSW front-row position, the other is still well and truly up for grabs. Pushing Paul Gallen up front is one option, while Woods, St George Illawarra's Trent Merrin, Blues incumbent Tim Grant, Cronulla's Andrew Fifita and Gold Coast's Ryan James are all pressing claims for a jumper.
Not only has Woods overcome an injury doctors tried to tell him could end his career, he turned a 6-8 week lateral meninscus tear into a two and a half week injury at the start of this year.
Given the Tigers were without front-rowers Keith Galloway, Matt Groat and James Gavet after round one - his speedy recovery was imperative.
Tigers coach Mick Potter reckons Woods will hold his own if the Blues decide to give him a crack against Queensland.
"His contribution to us has been enormous and valuable to the team," Potter said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-enforcer-aaron-woods-has-defied-call-that-he-would-never-play-again/story-e6frexs9-1226625129915
