Dalby Diehards secure Chris Woodbridge for two more years

After a strong 2024 season which saw him take out the title of A-grade Player of the Year for the second year running, Chris Woodbridge has re-signed for the Dalby Diehards for the next two years.

Chris Woodbridge in action at the Men's Koori Knockout grand final, Walgett Aboriginal Connection vs Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers. Picture: Andrea Francolini

The Dalby Diehards are looking to continue secure their future, re-signing star player Chris Woodbridge for the next two years after a dominant 2024 season.

Woodbridge swept the TRL awards in September taking home A-grade Player of the Year for the second year running, as well as awards for top try scorer and Hutchinson Builders Open Men’s Team of the Year’s best fullback.

Diehards president Dan Manley said they were thrilled to have Woodbridge on board for the next two years.

“I don't think there’s any argument he’s the best player in the competition, so to land him for the next two years is a real feather in our cap,” he said.

“He is what you would refer to a franchise player, someone we can build a team and club around, he is the reigning two time player of the year and highest try scorer by almost double what the next person got, he is the complete package and we are thrilled to have him.”

Manley said Woodbridge was the greatest talent he had ever seen come through the club.

“It is pretty rare to have someone who has speed off the mark and top end speed and he has both. If he makes a break pretty much no one in this comp catches him, I don’t know if anyone in the NRL catches him,” he said

“On top of that he reads the game very well, his skillset is elite, his pass selection is always spot on, never throws a bad ball, rarely drops a ball and despite being slight he punches well above his weight.

“You can’t understate how good of a footballer he is, he’s a generational type footballer, I’ve never seen one as good as him.”

Chris Woodbridge, Men's Koori Knockout grand final, Walgett Aboriginal Connection vs. Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers. Picture: Andrea Francolini

Mr Manley said having Woodridge on board would have a flow on effect to the players around him.

“He attracts players, everyone wants to play with Woody because he is the super star of the competition,” he said.

“It is brilliant for our juniors because they can learn a lot from how he organises from the back and the way he plays the game.

“His skill base is elite and blokes just being around him become better footballers which helps us to bring other players to the club as well because people want to play with people of his ability.”

He said despite numerous offers from clubs across the state Woodbridge had chosen to stick with the Diehards.

“He’d had offers from Queensland clubs trying to get him, but Dalby is home to him and he wants to stay here and make a life, to him this is his home,” he said.

“We are so lucky he feels this is an environment that he wants to stay a part of, even though there are bigger things calling him he is happy here and we are thrilled that’s the case.”