Aaron Woods suffers hamstring injury in Tigers 22-16 loss to Cronulla

AARON Woods is in severe doubt for Kangaroos clash with New Zealand after suffering a hamstring injury in the Tigers 22-16 loss to Cronulla.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 29: Chad Townsend of the Sharks celebrates scoring a try during the round nine NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Cronulla Sharks at Leichhardt Oval on April 29, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

FIRST Aaron Woods’ beloved Leichhardt faithful turned on him during Wests Tigers’ loss to Cronulla.

Minutes later it was his body, with the Tigers captain almost certain to miss the Kangaroos’ clash with New Zealand on Friday after leaving the field with a hamstring injury and left the ground quickly to undergo scans.

Tigers fans were given an insight into life post-Woods and James Tedesco after neither played on after halftime in front of 13,405 people.

Woods was greeted to a chorus of boos when he was introduced on the big screen prior to kick-off while a “Woods is a dog” banner was waved on the hill as fans vented their frustrations at the prop’s decision to sign a four-year deal with Canterbury.

The Tigers fought back to lead at halftime.

Tigers coach Ivan Cleary said Woods was “thousands” to play in the Test match and described the tackle which injured Woods as “forced” while paying compliments to his injury-ravaged side.

“We had a lot of very brave boys out there tonight playing injured,” he said.

“Obviously lost a few troops and we were under the pump with the interchange.”

Mitchell Moses and Tedesco also felt the wrath of a parochial home crowd with another banner reading “No dogs on the bus, Woods, Tedesco, Moses get off.”

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Woods’ night ended after his legs were bent awkwardly in a tackle after 25 minutes. Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga could have a further headache after Johnathan Thurston’s standby, James Maloney, was penalised for a high shot on Tedesco, which left the fullback unable to return after failing a concussion test.

Some Chad Townsend brilliance split the sides, with the Cronulla halfback chipping and regathering to score in the 70th minute to give ­Cronulla the win as the Tigers’ ­kicking game failed to build any ­sustained pressure.

The Tigers did well to crawl back from a two-try deficit to lead 14-10 at halftime. A Moses penalty goal gave the Tigers an early 2-0 lead before Tony Williams was at his vintage best to score the first try.

Williams, making his Sharks debut, stormed past Brooks and Moses Suli to score after 10 minutes.

The Sharks fought back well.

The Sharks extended their lead three minutes later when winger Sosaia Feki scored in the corner. Tedesco looked to have scored the Tigers’ next try, only to be controversially denied after Woods was penalised for making contact with Paul Gallen after the play-the-ball.

While Woods was assisted from the field, halfback Luke Brooks laid on a try for Kevin Naiqama before Suli replicated Williams’ efforts to crash past four defenders to give the Tigers a two-point lead.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 29: Chad Townsend of the Sharks celebrates scoring a try during the round nine NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Cronulla Sharks at Leichhardt Oval on April 29, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Tigers led 16-10 with 24 minutes remaining but the Sharks levelled when Wade Graham claimed an uncontested bomb before a bounce pass found Valentine Holmes to score.

Cleary wouldn’t be drawn into a contentious moment when Sharks skipper Gallen appeared to take a dive.

“Our game is different to other football codes,” he said. “One (aspect) in particular is we don’t condone diving. “But we did tonight. I’ll leave it at that.”