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Young guns prepared to prop up Tigers
March 26, 2013
Glenn Jackson - SMH
Rugby League Writer
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They are the youngest starting props in the premiership by some distance, with 42 years between them when most clubs at least notch a half century.
Jack Buchanan and Aaron Woods, 20 and 22 respectively, will have to be the driving force behind the brilliance of five-eighth Benji Marshall and hooker Robbie Farah.
Both have experience beyond their years. With most front-rowers generally maturing through the mid-20s, Woods has already played 51 NRL matches. Buchanan, meanwhile, is the youngest starting front-rower in the competition. Without Keith Galloway, who has a pectoral injury, he will likely continue to be for some time.
''I haven't seen it as increased pressure,'' Buchanan said. ''But Aaron and I have had a talk. We know that we've got to keep working hard. It's a challenge for myself. I'm always welcoming challenges, so this is another one I'm looking forward to.''
Not only are they the youngest starting pairing in the competition, Buchanan was the youngest, and Woods the next youngest, starters from round three. ''It's my dream. It's what I want to do,'' Buchanan said. ''I'm embracing it, and just taking the opportunity. I'm loving it. You want to do well for your team, you want to do well for all your mates and your brothers, and you want to do well for yourself.''
Woods was superb against Parramatta last Friday night, starting for the first time this season, in the absence of Galloway. He has had many admirers for sometime, including former Balmain prop Steve Roach, who maintained on Monday that Woods would play for NSW and Australia ''sooner rather than later''. ''He virtually carried them [the Tigers] last year, when Galloway was injured,'' Roach said. ''I reckon, along with [North Queensland's] James Tamou, he's the best ball-running front-rower in the comp.''
Woods also impressed against the Eels having been unable to train freely so far this year, due to pre-season knee surgery. ''I can run, but I just need to look after it,'' Woods said. ''It'll be like that for a couple of weeks - it's only been three-and-a-half weeks since the surgery.
''I was just happy to get through [against the Eels], with the knee.''
March 26, 2013
Glenn Jackson - SMH
Rugby League Writer
\
\
They are the youngest starting props in the premiership by some distance, with 42 years between them when most clubs at least notch a half century.
Jack Buchanan and Aaron Woods, 20 and 22 respectively, will have to be the driving force behind the brilliance of five-eighth Benji Marshall and hooker Robbie Farah.
Both have experience beyond their years. With most front-rowers generally maturing through the mid-20s, Woods has already played 51 NRL matches. Buchanan, meanwhile, is the youngest starting front-rower in the competition. Without Keith Galloway, who has a pectoral injury, he will likely continue to be for some time.
''I haven't seen it as increased pressure,'' Buchanan said. ''But Aaron and I have had a talk. We know that we've got to keep working hard. It's a challenge for myself. I'm always welcoming challenges, so this is another one I'm looking forward to.''
Not only are they the youngest starting pairing in the competition, Buchanan was the youngest, and Woods the next youngest, starters from round three. ''It's my dream. It's what I want to do,'' Buchanan said. ''I'm embracing it, and just taking the opportunity. I'm loving it. You want to do well for your team, you want to do well for all your mates and your brothers, and you want to do well for yourself.''
Woods was superb against Parramatta last Friday night, starting for the first time this season, in the absence of Galloway. He has had many admirers for sometime, including former Balmain prop Steve Roach, who maintained on Monday that Woods would play for NSW and Australia ''sooner rather than later''. ''He virtually carried them [the Tigers] last year, when Galloway was injured,'' Roach said. ''I reckon, along with [North Queensland's] James Tamou, he's the best ball-running front-rower in the comp.''
Woods also impressed against the Eels having been unable to train freely so far this year, due to pre-season knee surgery. ''I can run, but I just need to look after it,'' Woods said. ''It'll be like that for a couple of weeks - it's only been three-and-a-half weeks since the surgery.
''I was just happy to get through [against the Eels], with the knee.''
