Woods closing in on NSW Origin jumper

Aaron Woods isn’t saying too much about his State of Origin chances – but the Wests Tigers prop’s football is shouting from the rooftops.

“I think he’s got rep footy written all over him,” Tigers coach Tim Sheens said after Woods’ man of the match performance in Sunday’s 31-30 win over Parramatta.

“He’s going forward in leaps and bounds that young lad.

“He’s only young, whether they use him or not use him this year, he’s headed that way for sure.”

A mammoth 165 metres from 21 hit-ups to go along with 33 tackles may just have been enough to secure Woods a start in NSW coach Ricky Stuart’s Origin I line-up, with the Blues still searching for answers to Queensland’s Test quality pack.

Woods has impressed with every hit-out in 2012, while his efforts for City Origin in the upset win over Country last week were not unnoticed.

“I’m not too fussed about that, I’m just worried about getting a win for the Tigers,” Woods said of his Origin chances.

“My focus is on cementing my starting spot here.

“I do a lot of extras each week trying to prepare 100 per cent for each game.

“One of my big things I’m working on is fitness. Being a big boy, you try and get through as much time as possible.”

While he would not have enjoyed being on the receiving end of it on Sunday, Woods credited Eels prop Tim Mannah with helping his development as a possible Origin player.

“He’s an Origin Blues player last year, I followed him a lot to see how he prepared,” Woods said.

“It was enormous, I learned a lot.”

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