Local junior Aaron Woods to fulfil childhood dream of captaining West Tigers

“BEING a local junior, just to play one first grade game there was a dream come true.’’ Aaron Woods’ dream of leading the West Tigers has finally become a reality.

Aaron Woods poses for a portrait after he was announced as Wests Tigers captain at Concord Oval, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

LOOK closely enough and you’ll see tinges of orange in the black beard of Aaron Woods.

You can never take the Balmain out of the boy.

And that’s why Woods’ appointment as captain of the Tigers yesterday was a no-brainer.

Woods joked he ‘’bled maroon and white growing up’’ as a young Manly fan _ but he’d never cop anybody muttering a bad word about the inner-west, one half of the Wests Tigers’ spiritual heartland.

The 24-year-old grew up living above a newsagent on Norton St. He has a tiger inked on to one finger. He didn’t need prompting when asked when he’d first lead his troops into action at his beloved Leichhardt Oval next season.

“Round two. It’s a Monday night. Against Manly,’’ Woods said.

“I got to captain the boys there last year against Penrith, and we didn’t win.

“All my mates get on the hill and absolutely give it to me and spray me.

“Being a local junior, just to play one first grade game there was a dream come true.’’

Woods says his approach to leadership will be much more ‘’laidback’’ than his predecessor and NSW teammate Robbie Farah. He’s tight with Farah, but says he’ll have no dramas barking orders at him.

New Wests Tigers captain Aaron Woods at Concord Oval, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

“Robbie and I argue all the time on the field, but that’s part of footy,’’ Woods said with a smile.

“Nine times out of 10 we agree, but if we have an argument, we settle it straight away. You all make out he’s ‘Mr Grumpy’ and ‘Mr Angry’, but he’s an easy bloke to get along with.’’

One thing that annoys the normally jovial bearded prop is the Tigers’ recent failings.

The fitness of their smaller pack will work in their favour in 2016, says Woods, especially with the reduced interchanges.

More importantly, young halves Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses will be given more freedom to play the ball, with coach Jason Taylor happy to move away from the structured footy he implemented in the early part of the season.

“At times last year you could tell we were really structured and the young boys Luke and Mitch weren’t sure how to go about it,’’ Woods said.

“We had big chat in the break about how we want to play footy, and that’s where ‘JT’ has come into his own, and he’s let the boys talk to him and get his influence on the way they want the game plan.’’

Originally published as Local junior Aaron Woods to fulfil childhood dream of captaining West Tigers