EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould Issues Warning to Eager Bulldogs Fans Regarding Talented Teen Sensation Mitch Woods

Phil Gould has sought to manage expectations surrounding Bulldogs’ young prospect Mitchell Woods, emphasising that the club is “not rushing him” towards a first-grade appearance.

The young halfback, who just celebrated his 19th birthday last week, is regarded as one of the nation’s brightest sporting talents, having excelled in rugby league, rugby union, and AFL at the schoolboy level.

Woods decided to turn down offers from other codes to pledge his future to Canterbury, sparking excitement among fans eager for his NRL debut.

There was plenty of buzz on Tuesday afternoon when Woods was included in the extended Bulldogs squad for their upcoming round 12 match—marking the first time coach Cameron Ciraldo has done so.

Nevertheless, during an appearance on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus prior to the Dolphins match on Thursday night, any speculation about Woods being selected was promptly dismissed by the club’s general manager.

“No, not this week,” Gould stated firmly.

“He was named in the extended squad and has been travelling with the team and residing in camp for the last few weeks.

“He’s gaining valuable experience of what it takes to be in professional football.”

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Woods has only recently returned from an injury setback that affected him during his first complete pre-season with the NRL squad.

Since making his comeback just in time for the SG Ball semi-finals, he has stepped up to the U21s Jersey Flegg team, leading them to two victories and pushing them into sixth place on the ladder.

It is anticipated that Woods will get an opportunity in the NSW Cup later this year, but Gould is again urging patience as the club opts for a long-term strategy.

“He’s progressing well, but he had an interrupted off-season due to some hamstring injuries—just the wear and tear from his first full pre-season,” remarked Gould, the general manager of football.

“He’s still quite young and is showing very encouraging signs. There’s no need to pressure him—I’ve often said that a professional playmaker’s peak years typically span from 25 to 35, and he’s just 19 and still in SG Ball.

“There’s a long journey ahead for him; we have no intention of rushing the process, but we also won’t hold him back if he continues to demonstrate positive signs, and he certainly is doing that.

“His form is developing nicely in the lower grades, but it’s a gradual process.” 

Woods played a pivotal role in last year’s U19s State of Origin triumph for the NSW Blues, alongside teammates such as Dragons prop Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Eels forward Sam Tuivaiti, who have since made first-grade debuts with their clubs.