Phil Gould has moved to temper expectations regarding Bulldogs teenager Mitchell Woods, saying the club is “not rushing him” towards a first grade debut.
The young halfback, who only turned 19 last week, is one of the best sporting talents in the country, having excelled at rugby league, rugby union and AFL at schoolboy level.
Woods opted to knock back interest from rival codes to commit to Canterbury long-term in what has plenty of fans eagerly anticipating an NRL debut.
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A few heads were turned on Tuesday afternoon when Woods was named in the extended Bulldogs squad for their round 12 fixture – the first time coach Cameron Ciraldo had done so.
Mitchell Woods NSWRL
However, speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus ahead of the Dolphins clash on Thursday night, any suggestion Woods would be selected were shut down by the club boss.
“No, not this week,” Gould said.
“He was named in the extended squad and he’s actually been travelling with the team and staying with the team in camp over the last few weeks.
“He’s just getting the run of what it’s like in professional football.”
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Woods is only a handful of games back from an injury layoff, which saw him deal with hamstring issues during his first full pre-season with the main NRL squad.
Since his initial return in time for the SG Ball semi finals, Woods has moved into the U21s Jersey Flegg side and orchestrated two wins for the Dogs, pushing them into sixth spot on the ladder.
It’s expected that Woods will get a taste of NSW Cup at some stage this year, but Gould is again reminding everyone to be patient as the club plays the long game.
Mitchell Woods in action for the NSW U19s team last year NRL Images
“He’s doing well, but he had a disrupted off-season with a couple of hamstring injuries, just wear and tear from his first full off-season,” Gould, the general manager of football, said.
“He’s still only young, but he’s showing really positive signs. We’re not rushing him at all, there’s no need to rush him – as I always say, the career of a professional playmaker is between the ages of 25 and 35 and he’s still SG Ball, he’s still 19.
“He’s got a long way to go, we don’t want to rush him – but we won’t hold him back either if he shows positive signs and he’s certainly showing positive signs.
“His own form is developing really nicely in the lower grades, but it will take time.”
Woods played a starring role in last year’s U19s State of Origin victory for the NSW Blues, with teammates including Dragons prop Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Eels forward Sam Tuivaiti since earning first grade debuts with their respective clubs.
