Aaron Woods wins on debut for Cronulla in controversial 18-15 victory over New Zealand
AARON Woods was victorious on debut for Cronulla but the Sharks were lucky to escape New Zealand with a win after a controversial forward pass handed them the game against the Warriors.
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AARON Woods has never been beaten as a Cronulla Shark.
And, OK, so his record isn’t without controversy.
But when was the last time this big unit wasn’t engulfed in the stuff?
Only days after training with the Canterbury Bulldogs — and less than 12 months after leaving behind his beloved Wests Tigers — Woods played a starring role as the Sharkies overcame a disastrous start, and controversial finish, to beat the Warriors 18-15 in Auckland.
And, no, he wasn’t exactly the key talking point afterwards.
Not after Cronulla winger Edrick Lee scored the matchwinner from what appeared to be a forward pass.
But still, the former NSW Origin forward showed enough to suggest he will prove a force for Cronulla as season 2018 heats up — in the process getting to play the finals footy that saw him initially walk out on the Tigers.
Wearing a Shire jersey stitched with the match details — an honour afforded to all club debutants — the big unit carted the Steeden through 128m in attack, the second most metres of any forward on the field.
Elsewhere, the man in jersey No. 16 also made 18 tackles, missed none and had a couple of nice touches without overplaying his hand.
And, yes, Woods was penalised for an incorrect play the ball.
Inexcusable.
Especially given Cronulla, at the time, were on fifth tackle and attacking the tryline.
But overall, the big fella was strong enough to suggest this move will be one he enjoys.
Gone, finally, is the pressure that came with captaining a Wests Tigers basket case.
And after that, earning $3.2 million as a marquee man for Canterbury-Bankstown.
At Cronulla, Woods has no Big Four to be part of.
Or no expectation to meet.
No, as a Sharkie this interchange forward is simply one more cog in a pack where boasting NSW Origin caps is not so much an exception as the rule.
Which is exactly how the 27-year-old played.
Trucked the ball forward.
Made his tackles.
Solid in a game where the finish was anything but.
Indeed here was a finish that saw Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson ice a field goal to put his side ahead with only minutes to play. And soon after, hooker Isaac Luke finishing off a kick to score what everyone thought was the matchwinner.
At least until he was ruled off-side.
No try.
And so Cronulla not only went up the other end of the field, but then took the lead themselves through Lee. And a pass that plenty not wearing Cronulla jerseys will tell you today travelled forward.
Still, it was awarded.
Leaving Woods unbeaten as a Shark
Not that it looked that way early on.
Playing without big guns Wade Graham, Josh Dugan and Luke Lewis, Cronulla could not have started worse in a match that was to solidify their top eight hopes — conceding two converted tries in the opening eight minutes.
Worse, both four-pointers were gifted from simple errors.
However, despite the unhappy opening, the Sharkies then spent the next 30 minutes turning things around, both on field and on the scoreboard, to go to the break level at 12-all.
First off, centre Jesse Ramien muscled his way over after 15 minutes, pushing his way through opposite Solomone Kata to score out wide.
Then nine minutes later, on the opposite side of the field, winger Edrick Lee crossed on the end of a shift right that went through the hands of Chad Townsend, Matt Moylan, Valentine Holmes, Ricky Leutele and then to Lee.