The name Michael Woods is synonymous with local rugby league and he is best known for having coached Marist Brothers to multiple premierships during the nineties. “Woodsy’, has a Wayne Bennett type personality and his innate understanding of the game, is matched only by his capacity to engage with individual players, in a way that brings the best out of them and critically, within a team environment. His positive influence on numerous players over the past several decades, has made Woods a very respected person within the local rugby league community.

I have written many Sunday Profiles and most of the people who I have written about have been initially reluctant to put themselves ‘front and centre’. Despite having known Michael Woods for many years, I did not anticipate being given some homework in response to my request to chat with Michael. I was instructed to read the 2012 publication called ‘Marist Brothers 100 Years’, as compulsory research for this article. Why? It is because so much of who Michael Woods is, as a man, is outlined within the words and images of that publication, with themes that Michael reiterated over and over, as we sat down to talk about his life.

Michael Woods was born in Sydney, but he spent his first nine years living in New Guinea. Michael’s father Peter (who was an accountant) and mum Noela, took their young family to Rabaul, a former provincial capital of East New Britain in Papua New Guinea, located in the north-eastern part of the country. My immediate reaction was to quiz Michael about ‘life in New Guinea’ and he spoke of attending a Catholic Primary School and being a very active lad, saying that it was a ’wild time’. There was no organised sport, but Michael recalls plenty of activity that was loosely described as a form of sport. The family necessarily left PNG, when political and civil unrest created a situation that was untenable for the Woods family.

Life back in Australia for Michael, was initially at Barraba, near Tamworth, where his mother’s family came from and as the eldest of eight boys and one sister, Jenny, he grew up on the Tablelands. It was Michael’s grandfather who believed strongly about the benefits of playing sport. Michael was introduced to rugby league and over the next six decades, he has maintained a continuous involvement, never missing a single season, whether as a player, trainer or coach.

Twelve year old Michael was sent to boarding school at Woodlawn College. Michael speaks with much appreciation about how his time at Woodlawn created a way forward that changed his life for the better. The strong rugby league culture at Woodlawn had an indelible influence on the young lad and Michael says that the environment set the tone about how he would see and understand the game. Michael met the late Bob Delaney, who would become a valued team-mate through their High School years and who would remain a very close friend. School footy was a central part of Michael’s world, where he was predominantly a lock, but he also played prop and selection in the Woodlawn First XIII, was considered to be a highlight, given the competitive status that existed at the college.

Michael inherited a deep love of the game, building many friendships, that he embraced and despite his ‘wild’ early days, Michael would progressively develop into a person who he credits as being a consequence of having great friends around him and critically, rugby league. There was never any question that Michael had a good work ethic and he spent school holidays working as a labourer wherever work existed back home on the Tablelands. Michael went to the University of NSW, however an anticipated career in commerce, proved ill-conceived, with Michael conceding that he was not adequately focused on academic rigour. The most apparent purpose for Michael being at University, was to give him the opportunity to play footy at the equivalent of the now State Cup competition level and he was going well enough to be identified and recruited by South Sydney in 1975 as a ‘country import’.

The time at South Sydney proved to be a pivotal time, albeit the real learnings from that stint, would only make sense in due course. Woods played in the Under 23 team in what could be described as an introduction that Michael recalls as being ‘not immediately favourable’, Michael found himself suspended for eight weeks, for an off-field incident that would ironically prove to define his coaching philosophy beyond that moment. On the field, Woods progressed to First Grade (on the bench) in 1976, with Souths coached by Johnny King. Woods started the next season in the First Grade squad, coached by John ‘Lurch’ O’Neill, but got badly injured (that wretched knee) and that ended any possibility of a serious playing career. Michael quit university and moved back to Barraba. He tried to play, but that dodgy knee had other ideas and despite several ‘comebacks’, injury would halt his playing days.

Bob Delaney and Kim Evans were each teaching at Woodlawn and Bob convinced Michael to move to Ballina, where the three mates shared a house. Delaney and Evans were playing First Grade for Ballina and asked Woods to don the boots again and play, but it was a forlorn campaign as the troublesome knee would soon fail yet again!! Woods had been involved as a trainer for many years, in addition to his role as a player and had in fact been a trainer at South Sydney, so the role continued locally. Woods started as trainer with Marist Brothers, joining Bob Delaney who was head coach at Brothers in 1983, Kim Evans, who also joined Brothers, with Woods also being the trainer at Lismore City Rugby Club. The Woodlawn connection also found Woods appointed as assistant coach of the First XIII at Woodlawn, with Kim Evans, in addition to some paid employment doing residential work at the College.

Woods enrolled in the Sports Science course at Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (now Southern Cross University) and a growing reputation as a competent exercise and sports technician, saw him get involved with Ballina Athletics Club, where he worked with numerous athletes, including Sharyn Saxby, who went on to become a National Champion middle-distance runner. The involvement with athletics opened doors for Woods and he was recruited into a role with the Queensland Academy of Sport and a role with the National Jumps Team, that was based at the QAS. During that tenure, Woods worked with athletes who competed at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, in addition to the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. Since 1985, Woods has established himself as a ‘go to person’ for injury management, chronic pain, recovery and preparation, which has aligned well to his broad involvement in league and further demonstrated his versality and skills.

Michael takes me back to 1976, to put context into his earlier reference to a moment of volatility, injury and suspension, that proved to be a positive influence on who he would become. He describes his connection with rugby league as a game that teaches so much about life, saying, ‘It is a tough sport and is about dealing with adversity, celebrating success and more than anything, about the appreciation of mates and family’. He quips, ‘ I am grateful that I have been able to meet so many wonderful people during my involvement with the game.’

Woods would take on the role as Head Coach at Marist Brothers in 1993. As recorded in the club’s 100 years centenary book and validated by Woods, the major change made in 1993, was to establish a Coaching Panel, to implement consistent processes, for the purpose of creating a whole club framework. The initial panel consisted of Kim Evans, John Mayes, Ron Hughes, Dave Latta and Michael Woods. What a visionary initiative this has proved to be for Marist Brothers, that was established in 1912 and remains a strong rugby league club in this region.

My efforts to talk with Michael about trophies won was quickly shut down. He was insistent on talking about objectives to ensure that the club is underpinned by an environment where individuals can enjoy the experience of being part of a club family, where they can become better people. It was clear at this point in the conversation, that the otherwise unflappable and quietly spoken Woods, was uncomfortable talking in terms of ‘I” and for him it is always about team values. He further spoke with much pride about being part of a club that exists as a collective beyond the individual players who take to the field each season and where Michael says that he has learnt so much. Woods makes special mention of the influence of the late Charlie Wade and the late Budgie Malone, about which he says he will be eternally grateful. Michael quotes Charlie as saying, ‘What are we here for? Better players or better people? ALWAYS better people. It is NEVER about the winning!’

Woods put context into that sentiment, saying, ‘It is true that Brothers were very successful in the eighties and nineties, but it has always been more about friends, families and respect for others.’ As a coach, Woods says that he believes that how he speaks with players, is paramount. He says adamantly, ‘What we have created at Brothers means that culture has become player driven, club driven and regardless of the depth or continuity of players, Brothers believes in the players, club values and the systems in place.’ He further states, ‘The history books record periods of exceptional success and I am humbled to have worked consistently with so many high quality players, but beyond this, people (on and off the field), were inspirational through their commitment, leadership and generosity.’ Woods highlights the club mantra that endorses that EVERY team and EVERY level deserves equal opportunity, saying that the achievement of the Club Championship (noting that Brothers has dominated this award in local league since 1979), is evidence of the priorities that the club proudly upholds.

Beyond the local football scene, Woods was coach of the Melbourne Storm Colts through 2004-05, where he mentored former NRL stars Greg Inglis, Adam Blair and Sika Manu. He was also involved with the Titans Colts, telling me that the experience with the ever-evolving professionalism of rugby league, has been a valuable experience. Woods has a holistic perspective of rugby league and this was shown in recent years, where he was Head Coach of the Kyogle Rugby League Club, supporting that club when it needed assistance. He is now predominately coaching juniors and he is the Brothers Under 16’s coach this season. My observation is that these lads are exceptionally fortunate to have such a competent coach and positive human being at the helm.

(Michael and Kerri with and son-in-law Lee Nagorcka and daughters Lauren, Georgia and Kate)

The fiercely private Woods, lets his guard down for a brief moment, when I ask about his family. Michael offers a succinct and heartfelt tribute to his wife Kerri and daughters Lauren , Kate and Georgia, saying, ‘The only reason that I have been able to follow my passion for rugby league, is because of the support that Kerri and each of our daughters have given me.’ He further says, ‘Being bestowed Life Membership of Marist Brothers Rugby League Football Club in 2003, was humbling, but without Kerri and our daughters, I could not have done a fraction of what I have been able to do.’ For those who know the Woods family, I am sure that they will agree that they epitomise the values that Michael describes as being engrained within the club DNA and all applaud the contribution that this family has made to Marist Brothers.            

Terry Dardengo was one of Woods’ many trusty lieutenants during the ‘Golden Run’ from 1993-2003, when Brothers played in nine out of ten grand finals, winning seven. I asked Terry for a comment about his former coach, to which he replied, ‘Michael was a coach who was a generation in front of the times. He rarely spoke about winning or losing. It was all about the performance and conduct, on and of the field.’ Michael would say,’ We will never be dictated to by the scoreboard.’ Michael’s focus was on getting every player to perform at their very best, week in, week out and if we did that, the scoreboard would look after itself.’

(Marist Brothers First Grade Premiers1994)

Michael’s great friend Steve Campbell perhaps described Michael best, when he wrote the following words that I found in the 2012 publication, referencing the 2003 First Grade side’s come from behind win in the grand final, from 13 points down with seven minutes to go, to win by two points. Campbell wrote, ‘Michael’s belief in his players could never be questioned and that is one of the qualities that set him apart.’

Absolutely a wonderful example of what a ‘Band of Brothers’ means. Marist Brothers Football Club, rugby league more broadly and the community, have been blessed to have another local champion in Michael Woods.

Well played Michael and thanks for your contribution on so many levels.