Blues forward Aaron Woods is nearing a complete recovery from an ankle injury

HERE’S some news that will put a smile on the face of NSW coach Laurie Daley — Aaron Woods is nearing a complete recovery from an ankle injury.

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 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.

Aaron Woods is almost full recovered from an ankle injury. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

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 used 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.

Aaron Woods takes on the Sharks defence. Picture Gregg Porteous

“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.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall has a foot injury. Picture: Brett Costello

REP ROUND CASUALTY WARD

* Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Foot, TBC) — ruled out pre-game for Kiwis.

* Kaysa Pritchard (Concussion, Next game) — copped a head knock for Samoa

* John Olive (Broken collarbone, TBC) — long-term injury. Ruled out pre-game for Junior Kangaroos due to a “complex fracture”

* Samisoni Langi (ACL, Season) — suffered a suspected second ACL injury while playing for Tonga and his career is in the balance.

* Aaron Whitchurch (Knee, TBC) — limped off for Queensland Residents and didn’t return

* Tim Moltzen (Knee, Season) — forced into early retirement at just 27

* David Nofoaluma (Neck, Next game) — came off for City after being caught awkwardly in a tackle. But the issue is nothing serious and he should be right for the Tigers next week.

Tim Moltzen has been forced into retirement. Picture: Gregg Porteous

FULL CASUALTY WARD

Brisbane Broncos

Lachlan Maranta (Knee, Round 11)

Joe Boyce (Shoulder, Round 10)

Alex Glenn (Calf, Round 11)

Adam Blair (Suspension, Round 10)

James Roberts (Hip, Round 10)

Anthony Milford (Rested, Round 10)

Aaron Whitchurch (Knee, Indefinite)

Andrew McCullough (Hamstring, Round 14)

Canberra Raiders

Sia Soliola (Broken arm, Round 13)

Blake Austin (Hamstring, Round 10)

Jeff Lima (Hand, Round 12)

Adam Clydesdale (Ankle, Round 12)

Canterbury Bulldogs

Will Hopoate (Religious reasons, Round 14)

Sam Perrett (Ribs, Indefinite)

Josh Morris (Unknown, Round 10)

Chase Stanley (Hamstring, Round 10)

Josh Reynolds (Unknown, Round 10)

Josh Jackson (Concussion, Round 10)

Brett Morris (Knee, Round 16)

Aiden Tolman (Unknown, Round 10)

Cronulla Sharks

Sosaia Feki (Hamstring, Round 10)

Jayson Bukuya (Suspension, Round 11)

Connor Tracey (ACL, Season)

Gold Coast Titans

Oshae Tuiasau (MCL, Round 10)

Matt Srama (Knee, Season)

David Hala (Elbow, Round 12)

Daniel Mortimer (Hamstring, Round 10)

Kane Elgey (ACL, Season)

John Olive (Broken collarbone, Indefinite)

Manly Sea Eagles

Jamie Buhrer (Broken thumb, Round 10)

Brett Stewart (Hamstring, Round 10)

Tim Moltzen (Knee, Season)

Isaac John (Pectoral, Round 16)

Jorge Taufua (Broken collarbone, Round 14)

Tom Trbojevic (Ankle, Round 15)

Dylan Walker (Hip, ribs, Round 10)

Apisai Koroisau (Ribs, Round 10)

Jayden Hodges (ACL, Season)

Jake Trbojevic (Unknown, Round 10)

Melbourne Storm

Billy Slater (Shoulder, Season)

Richie Kennar (Foot, Indefinite)

Will Chambers (Fractured foot, Round 19)

Jeremy Hawkins (Hamstring, Round 13)

Tony Tumusa (Ankle, Round 11)

Young Tonumaipea (Knee, Indefinite)

Marika Koroibete (Knee, Indefinite)

New Zealand Warriors

Tuimoala Lolohea (Knee, Round 10)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Knee, Season)

Ben Henry (Knee, Indefinite)

Simon Mannering (Mouth cut, Round 10)

Thomas Leuluai (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Manu Vatuvei (Medical leave, Indefinite)

Konrad Hurrell (Disciplinary, Indefinite)

Ben Matulino (Disciplinary, Indefinite)

Bodene Thompson (Disciplinary, Indefinite)

Sam Lisone (Disciplinary, Indefinite)

Albert Vete (Disciplinary, Indefinite)

Sione Lousi (Knee, Indefinite)

Newcastle Knights

Chanel Mata’utia (Knee, Round 16)

James McManus (Concussion, Season)

Jake Mamo (Ankle, Round 10)

Peter Mata’utia (Knee, Round 17)

Robbie Rochow (Broken arm, Round 12)

Jarrod Mullen (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Sam Mataora (Suspension, Round 10)

Korbin Sims (Suspension, Round 11)

Kade Snowden (Various, Season)

North QLD Cowboys

Lachlan Coote (Ribs, Round 10)

Ray Thompson (Broken leg, Round 10)

Parramatta Eels

Tepai Moeroa (Shin, Indefinite)

Luke Kelly (ACL, Season)

Bevan French (Elbow, Round 10)

Anthony Watmough (Knee, Indefinite)

Tim Mannah (Shoulder, Indefinite)

Michael Gordon (Corked thigh, Round 10)

Danny Wicks (Concussion, Round 10)

Kaysa Pritchard (Concussion, Round 10)

Kieran Foran (Personal leave, Round 11)

Michael Jennings (Unknown, Round 10)

Penrith Panthers

Dean Whare (ACL, Season)

Viliame Kikau (Ankle, Indefinite)

Te Marie Martin (Shoulder fracture, Season)

James Fisher-Harris (Ribs, Round 10)

Matt Moylan (Unknown, Round 10)

Peta Hiku (Knee, Indefinite)

Waqa Blake (Hip pointer, Round 10)

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Adam Reynolds (Unknown, Round 10)

John Sutton (Pectoral, Round 18)

Angus Crichton (Groin, Indefinite)

Alex Johnston (Hamstring, Round 10)

Hymel Hunt (Pectoral, Season)

Sam Burgess (Ankle, Round 10)

Paul Carter (Suspension, Round 10)

Zane Musgrove (Wrist, Indefinite)

Samisoni Langi (ACL, Season)

St George Illawarra Dragons

Dylan Farrell (Back, Indefinite)

Mose Masoe (ACL, Season)

Yaw Kiti Glymin (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Ben Creagh (Knee, Indefinite)

Joel Thompson (Suspension, Round 10)

Tim Lafai (Knee, Indefinite)

Mitch Rein (Shoulder, Round 10)

Sydney Roosters

Vincent Leuluai (Knee, Round 10)

Dale Copley (Pectoral, Round 20)

Ian Henderson (Broken leg, Indefinite)

Sio Suia Taukieaho (Knee, Round 11)

Daniel Tupou (Lat, Indefinite)

Joe Burgess (Concussion, Round 10)

Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Foot, Indefinite)

Wests Tigers

Matt Ballin (ACL, Round 10)

Tim Grant (Knee/ankle, Round 10)

Aaron Woods (Ankle, Round 10)

Mitchell Moses (Quad, Round 10)

James Tedesco (Fractured shoulder, Round 13)

Josh Addo-Carr (Groin, Indefinite)

Jack Buchanan (Foot, Round 11)

Bayley Sironen (Ankle, Round 11)

David Nofoaluma (Neck, Round 10)

Originally published as Blues forward Aaron Woods is nearing a complete recovery from an ankle injury