Tired of being one-man show at Wests Tigers, Aaron Woods jumped at the chance to join Bulldogs pack

TIRED of being the one-man show up front for the Wests Tigers, Aaron Woods jumped at the chance to join one of the most feared forward packs in the NRL.

AARON Woods had become tired of being the one-man show up front for the Wests Tigers, and the chance to join one of the most feared forward packs in the front was too irresistible.

Woods had privately expressed to club officials on more than one occasion the need to chase after a top-quality experienced front-rower to help him in the early battles.

Adam Blair came and went, as did Marty Taupau, while Balmain great Steve Roach urged the club to chase after Sam Moa when he came off contract at the Sydney Roosters last season.

There was even more disbelief when the Tigers released their 200cm Holden Cup player of the year Taniela Paseka to Manly at the start of the season.

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It’s also understood Woods has also received little feedback from Tigers hierarchy the past month, despite the club publicly declaring the Leichhardt local was a priority signing.

Woods has always run for more metres than any other Tigers prop, and while his average metres gained is down to 136m this season, it is still well clear of Jesse Sue (94m), Tim Grant (91m) and Ava Seumanufagai (87m).

At Canterbury, Woods’ best mate David Klemmer has averaged 152m this season, while skipper James Graham and Aiden Tolman have amassed 117m and 115m respectively.

Woods will play with best mate David Klemmer. Photo: Phil Hillyard

Bursting on to the scene in 2011 when the Tigers fielded gun props Todd Payten, Bryce Gibbs, Gareth Ellis and Keith Galloway, Woods’ has had little help since.

Opposition teams have also realised the best way to limit Woods’ attack is to target him in defence.

Canterbury heavyweight Sam Kasiano admitted they would adopt the tactic at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

“He starts their sets with his big carries, we have to manage him, he has a good engine on him, but we have to try and keep moving him around,’’ Kasiano said.

The upheavals at Leichardt proved too much for Woods.

Roach is good friends with Woods and said the club could have made life easier by recruiting a big-name prop to share the workload.

“I’m not having a go at the blokes who are there, they’re doing their best, but we need genuine front-rowers,’’ Roach said.

“You’ve got Jesse Sue there, but he’s a backrower.

“I’ve been saying for five years we need an experienced bloke to help Woodsy.

“When a guy like Sam Moa came on to the market last season, they should have went straight after him. They’ve since bought Chris McQueen, another backrower.’’