Aaron Woods’ deal with Canterbury Bulldogs confirmed

WESTS Tigers skipper Aaron Woods has taken a pot-shot at his embattled club just moments after confirming a four-year deal to switch to Canterbury.

Woods has had to watch too many big games. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

HE has Leichhardt’s 2040 postcode tattooed on his backside but Wests Tigers skipper Aaron Woods has taken a pot-shot at his embattled club just moments after confirming a four-year deal to switch to Canterbury.

“Sick” of missing the finals each year — they last made the top eight in Woods’ debut season in 2011 — the Tigers captain accused the club of not supporting him.

Woods, who will join the Bulldogs from next season, has angered Tigers fans who again booed him before Saturday night’s match against Cronulla at Leichhardt Oval, where he injured his groin and ruled out of Friday’s Test against New Zealand.

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Woods has complained of the lack of support from the club. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Tigers fans even displayed crude signs aimed at Woods, Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco with the trio set to quit the club at season’s end.

But Woods said his decision to leave his local club came down to unstable management which sacked Jason Taylor just months after backing him in his public feud with former club stalwart Robbie Farah.

“I just felt a little bit let down,” Woods told Fox Sports.

“The club’s got no stability. We didn’t know who the long-term coach was going to be yet at the same time they wanted us to agree to a three or four-year deal.

“I didn’t know who the boss of the club was going to be. Who the coach was going to be. It’s a hard thing. I just wanted to know — that’s all I asked.”

The 26-year-old said he began the season believing he would re-sign with the club, but said the constant off-field upheaval swayed his decision.

“There were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of instability,” Woods said.

“There were a lot of things happening in the background from a higher place that was out of our control. We were forever in the media.

“It was one of hardest decisions of my life. Had you asked me at the start of the year, I would have said I’d be a one-club player at Wests Tigers. I never looked at any other club.

“I had to make a decision that was best for myself.

“We have had three coaches during my time at the club (Michael Potter, Taylor and now Ivan Cleary). It does drag you down after a while. We are football players but the stuff that comes through, it takes its toll after a while.

“You want to go in there and play footy but there is always something happening at the club that is out of our control.

“I want to play finals football. I am sick of watching — we haven’t made it in six years — the finals.”

Woods has had to watch too many big games. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Woods vehemently denied he was involved in the demise of former coach Taylor and didn’t have any communication with the club in the weeks that followed.

“Since Jason Taylor got sacked, it came out publicly that we four players (Woods, Moses, Tedesco and Luke Brooks) got him sacked, which is a complete lie,” Woods said.

“I liked JT, I got on with him really well. The club made the decision.

“The board, the CEO make decisions. We just play football, that’s it. (I) didn’t get any support, I didn’t hear from the club for three weeks.

“As captain of the club, you’d think they would at least send a text to see how you are going.”

Woods, 26, has played 133 NRL games for the Tigers having debuted in round one, 2011.

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“Personally, I’d like to take this chance to thank Aaron for the way he has led this club,” Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said. “He has led from the front every time he has taken to the field and has been a great player for this club for a long time now.

“It was obviously a tough decision for Aaron and he has made the decision in the best interest of his family and himself and as a club we completely respect that and wish him all the best in the future.

“I’m sure that Aaron will continue to put everything into his performances for Wests Tigers for the remainder of 2017 and we look forward to giving him the respectful farewell he deserves.”

Woods will get to play with his great mate David Klemmer. Photo: Gregg Porteous

The Bulldogs were delighted.

“Aaron is an outstanding footballer who has played at the highest level and is someone who will bring both experience and leadership to the Bulldogs,” Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle said.

“Equally, he is a quality human being and someone who I know will fit into the culture of a club with strong family values.”

Canterbury coach Des Hasler added: “Aaron will bring a great deal to the Bulldogs, both on and off the field. He is proven in both the international and state arenas and that level of experience will be most valuable to our club.”