NRL 2022: Aaron Woods on Dragons move, rep footy future and whether he regrets leaving Wests Tigers

Aaron Woods has revealed how coach Anthony Griffin is challenging him at the Dragons, his future in rep footy and what could have been if he never left the Wests Tigers.

Aaron Woods has opened up about how an “old school” honesty session with new coach Anthony Griffin has St George Illawarra’s bargain recruit primed to turn back the clock this NRL season.

In a wide-ranging interview, the former NSW and Test prop also spoke openly about all that has gone on his life since he left the Wests Tigers.

Between 2013 and ‘17 Woods played 14 Origins for NSW, while wearing Australia’s Test jumper on 17 occasions (he was the Dally M front rower of the year in 2015 and ’17, yet hasn’t played any rep footy since his last Test in 2018).

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And at 30, Woods is now on a contract said to be worth about a third of the $800,000-a-season he got to leave the Tigers (remember, he only played 14 games for the Dogs before being pushed out the door to Cronulla).

“People ask, do I regret it?” Woods said of his decision to leave his junior club.

Aaron Woods is loving life at the Dragons.

“You can say yeah but you can say no, because I really enjoyed my time at Cronulla.

“I was one game away from a grand final there (in 2018) … I reckon we probably should have won the comp if we don’t lose Wade Graham in that first semi final.

“And as a leader I am completely different to what I was when I was 24 and captain at the Tigers.

“You can probably say, yeah, I am spewing I didn’t get to play my entire career as a one club player. But I have learned so much about myself, and I have met some really lovely people.”

So does he think he could still compete at rep level if given the chance?

“Definitely. I’d love to,” he said.

“But to be honest with you it is not really on my mind.

“My mind is to get that starting jersey at the Dragons.

“When I sat down with Hook he said, ‘Don’t just come here to be happy to fill the numbers, I want you to push for a starting jersey’.

“And it is a challenge I have really loved taking on.”

Aaron Woods has been working hard at the Dragons.

HOOK’S ‘OLD SCHOOL’

You might remember after Griffin was punted at Penrith, Reagan Campbell-Gillard was one player who took a swipe at his coaching methods, likening pre-season sessions to “Groundhog Day” and more suited to “marathon runners”.

But for Woods there has been no complaining.

“It’s a bit different training to what I’ve had in the past,” Woods conceded.

“The first couple of weeks was a fair bit of old school running. 600s. 400s … but it’s all about seeing who can hang in there when times get tough, and we all have to push through it.

“I could have went down there and said, you know, I have played for NSW, I have played for Australia, I should be doing this, I should be doing that.

“But I see it as an opportunity to get better.”

Aaron Woods played 146 games for Wests Tigres before joining the Bulldogs in 2018. Picture: AAP Image/David Moir

WINNING RESPECT

Woods says he knew exactly where he stood after his very first conversation with Griffin.

“It was funny, when we were in Brisbane (for the NRL relocation) we were staying in the same hotel,” Woods recalled.

“And the Dragons were never on my radar, but I knew Peter Gentle well (Griffin’s assistant) and he said, ‘How would you go having a chat with Hook?’

“I said, ‘I’ve never met Hook before but I’d love to have a yarn’. I thought it was going to be a 20-minute chat or something, but I was in there for an hour and a half.”

And while they spoke about everything, one of Griffin’s non-negotiables was that Woods needed to make defence a priority.

“Definitely. That was one of our big points,” Woods said. “I was pretty lucky that I came through a system with Tim Sheens where we learnt how to play rugby league, whether it is counting numbers and all that when you have got the ball in your hand.

“And I have been in a few sides that attacked really well, but probably weren’t the best defensive sides. But under Hook’s regime it’s bite down on the mouth guard and we want to win with our defence.

“And we spoke about that, that if I wanted to go to another level with my game, if I can make my defence 10 per cent better, geez, I can really improve the way I can play my footy.

“And we both agreed that was something he could really help me on.

“And he does things at training where he has really challenged me on it and I have really enjoyed it. It is something I haven’t been challenged on before.”

Aaron Woods with son Buster, partner Sarah and daughter Coco.

BEING A DAD

For all the ups and downs in recent years, the beaming smile on big Woodsie’s face says it all when it comes to hanging out with family.

“It has probably made me a better person and a better player to be honest with you,” Woods said about his off-field life with partner Sarah, the proud parents of little Buster and Coco.

“You know, you can’t have those days when you come home and mope around because you’ve had a crap day at footy or you’ve had a crap day at training.

“You can’t bring that home because you have got a kid that is waiting for you to walk through that screen door who absolutely idolises you, and if you come home with a terrible attitude it affects them and it also affects your relationship.”