‘Shocked’ Aaron Woods says he didn’t push Jason Taylor out of Wests Tigers

WESTS Tigers skipper Aaron Woods has revealed he wasn’t consulted on the sacking of coach Jason Taylor — and actually found out on Twitter.

WESTS Tigers skipper Aaron Woods has revealed he wasn’t consulted on the shock sacking of coach Jason Taylor by the club’s board — he only found out through Twitter.

And Woods vehemently denied he or other off contract stars, Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks and James Tedesco, played any role in Taylor’s sudden demise.

Speaking with the Daily Telegraph, Woods said: “I didn’t push JT out.”

Woods was having a massage when an old school mate texted telling him to check Twitter immediately.

He claimed to be “shocked” at what he saw.

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“I had no idea — it came as a massive shock to us. We never sat down and talked about it at all,” Woods told Fox Sports’ NRL 360.

“We were at recovery and I checked my Twitter feed while getting a massage and the next thing I saw was that JT only had 24 hours left.

“I could have been told (by the board) but it wasn’t my decision. It was out of my hands, it doesn’t have much to do with me.”

Asked why he wasn’t told as club captain, Woods said: “We had no idea, we were at recovery and this hits you, it was a massive shock.

“It was the board and CEO’s decision, something us players can’t control. As a player, we have to go and play footy. The coaches coach, the administrators administrate. Our backs are against the wall now and it’s how we get ourselves out of it.

“There has been a lot to take in over the last day. We obviously didn’t see that coming.”

LISTEN: The Monday Bunker crew dissect all the fallout from the Jason Taylor sacking plus review a massive weekend in the NRL.

Another panel member on NRL 360, Bulldogs captain James Graham, was surprised Woods wasn’t consulted about the Taylor dumping.

“To be honest, I think I’d be disappointed,” Graham said. “To be in Aaron’s shoes, to find out on a Twitter feed, the senior playing, it should be a decision that is made collectively. You have to consult the players.”

Asked should Wests Tigers’ senior players be consulted on the next coach, Graham said: “One-hundred per cent.”

Woods said the ‘Fab Four’ wanted clarification on exactly who was coaching at the club next season however never sought to have Taylor sacked.

He even suggested he may well have re-signed even if Taylor was retained.

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Taylor’s axing caught Woods by surprise. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Asked by The Daily Telegraph whether he was in any involved in the decision, Woods said: “I had nothing to do with the decision. I was as shocked as everybody else. I didn’t push JT out. I just wanted to know whether JT was going to be there. If he was I could still have signed a three-year deal. I just wanted some guidance about what was going in the new few years.”

Wests Tigers will today have their first training session under interim coach Andrew Webster.

Former Penrith and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is firm favourite to be named coach, well-placed sources saying Cleary may have already agreed to terms.

“I have never had a football talk Ivan so I have no idea what he’s like as a coach,” Woods said.

Asked what he wanted from the new coach, Woods said: “A bit of direction, at the moment we don’t know what we are doing. I have spoken to a few of the boys — their heads are all-over-the-shop. We will work real hard to get ourselves out if this.”

Wests Tigers will somehow have to overcome this week’s drama before Sunday’s big match against Melbourne at Leichhardt Oval.

Originally published as ‘Shocked’ Aaron Woods says he didn’t push Jason Taylor out of Wests Tigers