Paul Wood explains exit, says goodbye and reflects on 16 years as Warrington Wolves teammates pay tribute

The prop played his first game for new club Featherstone Rovers on Sunday, effectively symbolising the end to 16 years of gallant service in primrose and blue.

From the day he signed up in then coach Darryl Van de Velde’s office in 1999 to his last appearance in September’s play-offs win at Castleford, he said he has enjoyed every minute of it.

With his contract release confirmed last week it means there is no official send-off in front of the fans for a 33-year-old who was Wolves’ longest serving player.

But he told the Guardian: “The fans are second to none. I know a lot of people say it about their own fans, but Warrington’s are great supporters.

“No matter what’s happened in my career they’ve always been quite supportive and I can’t thank them enough for that.

“It is appreciated by the players. We don’t often get a chance to say thank you but I mean it sincerely.”

The Wiganer also offered thanks to all those he has come into contact with at the club over a career that brought him 339 appearances, selections for England and Great Britain, two Grand Final appearances at Old Trafford, three successful Challenge Cup campaigns and a League Leaders’ Trophy success.

Playing on against Leeds with a ruptured testicle in the 2012 Grand Final and scoring two tries against Wakefield at The Halliwell Jones Stadium opener in 2004 are just two of the games he will be remembered for.

He added: “I’d like to think people could turn around now and say I’m 100 percent, I tried every game; and also that, like all players, I didn’t play well every week but always came off having tried my hardest and I think that’s all you can ask of players.

“I must have done something right to have been there for 16 years. Hopefully some people have got some fond memories of me and my playing career and we can share them in years to come.”

Wood said it was his decision to leave and that social media speculation of fall-outs with individual coaches is “nonsense”.

He said: “I don’t know where these rumours come from. I simply needed a change.

“I left school and more or less went straight into a full-time environment with Warrington and I’ve known nothing else.

“Over those 16 years it’s been fantastic and I can’t speak highly enough of the club.

“I’ve been through bad and good at the club, through a transition period, and every single day has been enjoyable, all for different reasons.

“But I felt like I’d been there long enough and I needed a change. If I hadn’t done it, I probably would have regretted it.

“When I first said (to the club) I was leaving, I didn’t have a club lined up but I decided to bite the bullet.

“They want people who are 100 percent committed to the cause and deep down I needed a change, experience a different culture at a club that’s in a different position.

“Although I would have been challenged by having to work hard to get into the Warrington team, I needed a different challenge to that. Mentally I needed freshening up.”

The Wolves camp that he has left is vastly different to the one he joined.

In 1999 Wolves were struggling financially at their crumbling Wilderspool home.

Wood said: "Then they were talking about the new stadium and there was a point I wondered if it was ever going to come off.

"When I signed, Warrington were signing a number of big names - Alfie Langer, Tawera Nikau, Andrew Gee.

"It was a team that under achieved with the big names and high expectations. We never really delivered.

"Then there was a transition period and things really started to happen when Paul Cullen took over.

"He took the club forward. It was the first Warrington team to reach the play-offs in Super League.

"Paul was outstanding for the club and I owe him a lot.

"He gave me my big chance really, kept me in the team and provided life lessons on and off the field.

"Then Tony Smith came in. He really changed us on how we prepared, how we played the game and how we wanted other people to perceive us as a club.

"Over the last few years it's been nothing less than magnificent with the way the club's been run, the finals we've played, the cups we've won.

"It's been a big transition within the club and I've got a lot of fond memories. To everyone involved in the club, I can't thank them enough."

Ben Westwood takes over as Wolves’ longest serving player and the current squad’s only survivor from the Wilderspool Stadium era.

Wolves' players say Wood is going to be sorely missed after becoming part of the furniture.

“He’ll be the same old buddy for me because we’ve set up a personal training company between us, but I’ll miss him around the place as will all the lads,” said the Wolves hooker Micky Higham.

“It’s not sunk in yet that he’s not around. I expect him to waltz through the door with his beard, his full sleeve of tattoos, cracking jokes and making people laugh.

“He’s a great bloke, who’s had his ups and downs and issues but I wouldn’t want him any other way.

“He felt like the time was right for a fresh challenge and we respect him for that because he’s given 16 years’ service, never taken a backward step and gave a ‘ball’ for this club, so to speak.”

Chris Hill, now one of the best props in the world, received good support from Wood and fellow experienced forwards at the club when stepping up to Super League from the Championship.

Hill said: “I learned a lot off Woody.

“Him and Moz (Adrian Morley) showed us the ropes at Warrington and I got pretty close with Woody. He was at my wedding on New Year’s Eve so I had a good chat with him.

“He’s moved on and he seemed happy within himself that was what he wanted to do, so good luck to him.”

Joel Monaghan added: "He's one of a kind. Woody's in his own world, a great bloke to have around but I think it was obviously time for him and Wolves to part.

"It could be the best thing for him. The past few years probably haven't gone as planned for Woody, I'd guess, but we love him to death.

"I'm sure he'll do well at Featherstone and I'm sure he'll still be floating around here too."

Gareth O'Brien paid tribute too.

"He's been brilliant, spending more than 15 years at the club.

"I've been lucky to be part of the squad and to get to know him well.

"He's a really good bloke and one that we're going to miss.

"But that was down to Woody. He felt he was ready for a new challenge and as a club and personally we wish him all the best.

"No doubt we'll see him later in the year and have a catch-up."

Chris Bridge added: "It would have been nice after 16 years for it to have worked out that he got a send-off with the fans around the ground but it wasn't to be.

"He's a lovely guy, all the lads love him. He's funny and anyone who knows Woody knows how funny he is. He loves a good quote.

"He's done what he thinks is best for him and his family and everyone's got to respect that."

Fingers are being crossed that Featherstone Rovers reach the sixth round of the Challenge Cup this year and draw Wolves away.

Wood said: "Hopefully, and I might be able to get my last game at The Halliwell Jones Stadium."

O'Brien concluded: "That would be interesting if we draw Fev."