One of the most sought-after young talents, Mitchell Woods, has been successfully contracted by the Bulldogs for the upcoming year. This hot prospect who’s been creating quite a buzz across NRL and AFL, has committed to a long-term deal with the club, rebuffing the advances of the Sydney Swans.
Regarded as the new star in the domain of halfbacs, Woods seemed to be courting both Bulldogs and Swans. But, fittingly, the allure of working with the Bulldogs‘ Head Coach, Cameron Ciraldo, coupled with the fact that the respected stalwart Brad Fittler previously earmarked Woods for his emerging Blues squad a year ahead of planned schedule, swayed Woods towards joining the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs‘ General Manager, Phil Gould, showed a personal interest in Mitchell Woods, envisaging him as a pillar around which the future team can be built. Simultaneously, Woods would be the pivotal figure in the halfback training school that Bulldogs is nurturing, analogous to the academy founded by Gould at Penrith – instrumental in honing talents like Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai. The club is hopeful of Woods making a mark, though refrains from comparing him to Cleary yet.
“Mitchell Woods is one of the most extraordinary young talents you could ever imagine,” stated Gould. The prodigy has demonstrated outstanding proficiency in rugby, AFL, and rugby league, deftly juggling different avenues of sports at the peak level of school sport and elite junior academies. The crucial decision of selecting a precise sport to specialise in was reached by mutual understanding between Bulldogs, Swans and Mitchell.
The Sydney Swans’ development staff met with Gould to deliberate Woods’ future. “Both the Swans and Bulldogs told Mitchell we would support him no matter which sport he chose as his career. However, we both agreed he needed to make his decision now,” revealed Gould. As the training regimen for each sport diverges considerably, further specialisation was inevitable.
In the realm of NRL, Woods’ choice to continue his professional rugby league journey with the Bulldogs is celebrated. His prior achievements as the captain of the Harold Matthews championship-winning team and the player of the year stands testament to his dedication and hard work. Gould expressed his excitement in seeing Woods develop in the club’s ranks.
