Aaron Woods is one of a handful of storied NRL veterans retiring at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Across a 14-year career, Woods has suited up for 270 games for five different teams, including multiple appearances at State of Origin and international level.
But there is one incident from his rookie year that he says set the tone for the remainder of his professional career.
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Aaron Woods recalls wild brawl during rookie year
Before he was a 14-time NSW representative for State of Origin, Woods was a teenager in his first NRL pre-season, having just graduated high school.
According to Woods, the experience was 'eye-opening', especially once two of the team's veteran players started punching on.
"Two of my favourite blokes to play with, Keith Galloway and Bryce Gibbs, they punched on at training," Woods said on the Fox League podcast.
"The era was a lot different when I came through, it was basically ‘speak when spoken to’ so I was too scared to say anything.
"We were just doing a catch-pass drill... there was this moment in the drill where Gibbsy was taking the p**s a bit, he kept throwing it real low and Keith would either drop it or just catch it.
"Keith is a very proud man, he doesn’t like being put on show, especially in front of young guys who he’s supposed to be the leader of. He said ‘if you do it one more time I’m going to rip your head off.’ Gibbsy throws it at his feet and next thing you know it was on.
"Poor old Royce Simmons [assistant coach] was like a little garden gnome in between trying to grab them. It was an eye-opener."
Woods leaves the game as a 17-time Australian representative, and two-time Dally M Prop of the Year.
