Manly v Tigers: Aaron Woods out to inflict more pain on Sea Eagles — the club he rejected

HE knocked back a deal worth more than $500,000 a year to join the team he supported as a kid to stay a Tiger. Now Aaron Woods wants to inflict more pain on Manly.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 17: Aaron Woods of the Blues scores a try during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 17, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

JUST over 12 hours after he scored the match-winning try for the Blues in front of 91,000 fans at the MCG, Aaron Woods was unrecognisable at Sydney airport.

Big Woods, dressed in a grey tracksuit jacket, cap and runners, barely turned a head on Thursday as he slumped down in a chair and waited for his bags just after 10am.

Bearded Woods shared a laugh with fellow NSW big bopper David Klemmer.

The pair were asked for one autograph by a middle-aged female fan.

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Woods, however, will be impossible to miss on Friday when he leads the Wests Tigers into action against Manly at Brookvale Oval.

Even on a dodgy sandy surface, Woods is bound to rack up more than 150m.

Woods grew up supporting the Sea Eagles. He loved Steve Menzies, Ben Kennedy and Anthony Watmough. He even had ‘Choc’ Watmough sign a Sea Eagles jumper when he was 12 years of age.

Woods pointed out that very fact when they first came together in an Origin camp a couple of years ago.

In fact, had Manly had a bit more luck, Woods could have been pulling on a Sea Eagles jumper on Friday night.

Only a couple of years ago, the Sea Eagles tried to lure Woods away from Leichhardt on a deal worth more than $500,000 a year.

It would have been money well spent given the way Woods has become one of the game’s best props.

After he racked up three more Dally M votes in Origin II, Woods leads polling, and could become the first prop to win the prestigious award.

How much would Manly halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran love playing behind a powerhouse prop like Woods?

Woods, or Woods-zilla as he is referred to by his mates, told The Daily Telegraph he was never tempted to join his childhood club.

“I love the Tigers,’’ a smiling Woods said.

After a long pause, he then added: “I’ll leave it at that.

“I love Manly, I grew up supporting them, so I can’t wait to play against them tomorrow (Friday) night.

Aaron Woods arrives at Sydney airport. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It will be easier to back up after a win. I did it last year after game three. I’ll get a massage now, hit the ice baths at Concord, smash some protein, throw on some BSC tights, and that will do the job.

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“I’m expecting extra (attention from Manly’s forwards), but that’s part of footy, that’s what it’s all about, and if we get into the grind, it will be good — if we go set for set with Manly, it should be a good game.

“I was so pumped for our boys last Friday. They had a really good win, and to see them play some footy was unbelievable. They were outstanding.’’

If Woods isn’t already the best prop in rugby league, he’s not far from it. He was able to throw a dummy and step past his idol Matt Scott to score a crucial try at a crucial stage of Wednesday’s 26-18 win.

That try virtually paved the way for the Blues to level the series and head to Suncorp Stadium with a real belief they can belt the Queenslanders in their own backyard.

“I thought we stuck to our game plan for the whole 80 minutes,’’ Woods said.

“A lot of the time in Origin, Queensland score a try in the last minute, even when there’s nothing on. But last night they didn’t even look like scoring in the last 10 minutes.’’

Woods, 24, is expected to captain the Tigers on Friday should Robbie Farah not recover from Wednesday night’s win. His shoulder looked in a lot of pain on Thursday, and he winced as he tried to slip a bag over his left shoulder.

The Tigers belted Souths last Friday, and will be keen to get the cash at Brookvale, which they’ve only done once in nine trips to the northern beaches.

Originally published as Manly v Tigers: Aaron Woods out to inflict more pain on Sea Eagles — the club he rejected