After playing **270 games** across **five clubs** and **14 seasons**, former Australia representative **Aaron Woods** has decided to retire from rugby league.

The journeyman prop forward will retire at the end of this season, having fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for **Manly** in 2023.

Woods made two first-grade appearances off the bench for the **Sea Eagles** this season, spending most of his final year playing for **Blacktown Workers** in the **NSW Cup**.

His last game for the reserve side was a **40-30 loss** to **Canterbury** on Saturday, with the Workers failing to make the finals.

'I had a lot of my family and friends there, sort of just kept it quiet to myself,' Woods told **Triple M Rush Hour** on Tuesday.

'I'm not really one to cry - I didn't cry on my wedding day or nothing.

But when I did come off the field, I think the first person I saw was my eldest son, **Buster**, and my middle daughter, **Coco**, and it just sort of hit me that I won't be playing in front of them anymore.

'Woods made his **NRL debut** for **Wests Tigers** in 2011 at the age of 20 and quickly became a fan favorite with his shaggy beard and long locks.

He forced his way into the starting side in his second season, which he capped by winning the **Dally M Prop of the Year** award.

His form was rewarded with a **NSW State of Origin** call-up in 2013, followed by a **Kangaroos** nod the year after.

Woods eventually racked up **146 appearances** for the joint-venture club before moving to the **Canterbury Bulldogs** in 2018.

He lasted half a year before a mid-season switch to **Cronulla**, where he fell short of making a grand final three years in a row.

After a brief stint at **St George Illawarra** in 2022, he signed with the **Sea Eagles** in 2023 and played **17 games** for his boyhood club.

Woods played alongside NRL legends and current coaches **Benji Marshall** and **Todd Payten** during his time at the Tigers, whom he credits as major influences in his career.

'To go out and run alongside those blokes and to fulfill a childhood dream.

.

.

it was just unreal,' he said.

'There's ups, there's a lot of downs.

I've done nearly everything in the game and I wouldn't change it for a thing.

You learn so many lessons in life from it.

'