NRL news 2024: Aaron Woods announces retirement after NSW ...
Aaron Woods has decided to hang up the boots, delivering an emotional address on radio to confirm the end of his storied NRL career.
The front-rower, who amassed 270 first grade games as well as 14 State of Origin appearances and 17 Tests, will retire from the sport at season's end.
At one stage, Woods was regarded as the best prop in the game, winning the Dally M positional award and almost pipped Johnathan Thurston for the top gong in 2015.
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The 33-year-old was part of the NSW team that snapped an eight-year Origin drought against the Maroons, while also tasting World Cup success in 2017 with Australia.
Aaron Woods celebrates the 2014 Origin victory. Getty
Woods spent over half his career with his local club, Wests Tigers, before moving on to feature for the Bulldogs, Sharks, Dragons and Sea Eagles.
In a classy announcement on Triple M's The Rush Hour on Tuesday afternoon, Woods revealed last weekend's reserve grade clash for Blacktown would be his last.
"After 14 long years, I will be calling it quits at the end of the season," he said.
"I'll still be training at the moment, filling a position and helping the boys [at Manly] get ready. I did play my last game probably on the weekend for Blacktown Workers, I had a lot of my family and friends there and kept it quiet to myself.
"It was one of those moments where you walk of the field and it was like 'oh, it's not really gonna happen again'. I'm not really one to cry, I didn't cry on my wedding day.
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"But when I did come off the field the first person I saw was my eldest son Buster and my middle daughter Coco and it hit me that I won't be playing in front of them again. It was the last time I will walk off the field with a pair of footy boots on.
Aaron Woods will retire at the end of the season. Cameron Spencer via Getty Images
"It's just been a rollercoaster journey. Growing up as a kid in Leichhardt, I wanted nothing more than to be a rugby league player.
"This whole journey has been like a dream come true. There's ups and there's a lot of downs. I've made rep teams, played for NSW and Australia, I've been dropped, I've done nearly everything in the game and I wouldn't change a thing."
Woods received an outpouring of well wishes from past teammates and coaches including David Klemmer, Shane Flanagan and Todd Payten on the radio broadcast.
