‘I don’t know’: Andrew Johns baffled by U19 NSW halfback Mitchell Woods’ pre-game act

Andrew Johns has seen a lot in his NRL career as a player and commentator but the Immortal hadn’t seen this one before.

Rising 18-year-old budding NRL player Mitchell Woods has learned a valuable lesson about being on TV — the camera doesn't miss anything.

As rugby league’s best young talent prepared to strut their stuff in the Under-19s State of Origin, Immortal Andrew Johns began to wax lyrical about the youngster.

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“The young halfback from NSW Mitchell Woods, I have seen him in junior footy — he is an absolute gun,” Johns began.

“I saw him in the pathways for NSW where Freddy (former NSW coach Brad Fittler) would get different players in their positions. He was an absolute standout. You could see in training.”

But as Johns went to talk about Queensland halfback Coby Black, his eye was caught by a bizarre move from Woods, who sprayed water down his pants.

“I don’t know what Mitchell Woods is doing there — just cooling off a little bit,” Johns and the Channel 9 commentary box laughed.

That's a new one. Photo: Channel 9

That's one Joey hasn't seen before. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

He continued however, adding Woods is an “electric runner, top-end speed, tough as they come”.

Johns then threw to Bulldogs football supremo Phil Gould saying he had been earmarked as “a long-term halfback”.

“Yeah, well we’ve signed him for four years,” Gould said.

“We have invested in him. He’s still in school, he’s only 18 years of age, he’s got another year at this level at least. And we’re going to be very patient with his development. He will tell us when he is ready to advance up to higher grades. But he’ll play a little bit of Jersey Flegg football at the end of this year, maybe get him a NSW Cup. And he’s in full-time training as of next year, he’s in our top 30 next season.”

Woods is a Bulldogs junior, who captained the club’s 2023 Harold Matthews premiership winning side, signed with Canterbury in a long-term deal after knocking back other codes.

The multi-talented sports star had also been a member of the Sydney Swans Academy and had been named a 2022 under-16 All-Australian, as well as being part of the NSW Waratahs underage programs, having been part of the Australian under-16 development squad.

It was a battle of the halves with Black having also been earmarked as a future Broncos halfback having made waves with a 46-point haul for the Burleigh Bears in a 130-0 victory over Wide Bay Bulls in the Queensland Rugby League’s Mal Meninga Cup in April.

Fans also liked what they saw, predicting a big future for the youngsters.

“Mitch Woods has it on a dime tonight as well man. Him and Coby Black are going to play a lot of NRL,” one fan wrote.

Another commented: “Mitch woods is a freak his short kicking game is insane.”

It was Woods’ Blues that came out on top however, claiming a 14-10 win for a third-straight under-19s State of Origin victory for NSW.

Mitchell Woods in action for NSW. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

While the halfbacks were primed, it was a strong defensive clash as the NRL’s next generation strutted their stuff.

Queensland drew level in the 44th minute of the 70 minute clash when Tyreece Tait scored, but it was Blues captain Matthew Arthur who scored the match winner.

In what appeared to be a banana kick from five-eighth Jake Elliott, Connor Votano knocked the ball back as it appeared to be heading over the sideline.

The ball fell into the hands of Raiders player Chevy Stewart, who hit Arthur for the match winner.

Post-game, Woods spoke with Brad Fittler.

“It was unreal,” an excited Woods said. “Spent a week in camp with all these boys and you build a bond that will last forever, so getting over the line in a game like this, it’s mad.”

It was a big day for NSW with the under-19s women demolishing the Queensland side 46-4.