Ex-Raiders hooker Zac Woolford has opened up on his frustrating exit from Canberra after the club denied him the chance to join the Dragons before playing him in just one game last season.
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Woolford revealed he had a two-year deal from the St George Illawarra Dragons on the table, but the Raiders refused to release him.
But the 28-year-old played just one game for Canberra last season, with Ricky Stuart preferring a dummyhalf combination of Danny Levi and Tom Starling.
Woolford signed a one-year deal with the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League competition for this season, bringing an end to his three years at the Raiders.
Speaking with The Yorkshire Post, Woolford revealed his frustrations at being denied a long-term deal at the Dragons only to languish in reserve grade in Canberra.
“It was frustrating in more ways than one,” Woolford said via The Yorkshire Post.
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“I had a deal to go to St George last year and two more years. I asked for a release just before Christmas, they denied it and I didn’t play all year.
“It was far from ideal. I don’t want to say anything bad because I loved my time there and have got a lot of good relationships I want to keep but it was very frustrating.
“In saying that, it led me here so I can’t complain. The main reason I wanted to come to Super League was that I felt I was in a box that I couldn’t get out of.
“Hopefully I can grow as a person and a player here. I definitely feel I’m capable of a lot more. I’m looking forward to proving that.”
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Woolford is the son of Raiders legend Simon Woolford, who played 262 NRL games for the Raiders and Dragons from 1994 to 2008.
He played 17 games of the 2022 season for the Raiders and 21 the following year for a total of 39 games for the club.
It would have been a fitting switch if Woolford had emulated his father and played for the two same clubs as his dad, but the Dragons have since signed Damien Cook.
Woolford also revealed why he only chose to sign a one-year deal with Huddersfield, but he can see himself staying a lot longer if things go to plan.
“There was an opportunity to sign for longer but I’ve got a partner and wanted to make sure she was comfortable,” Woolford said.
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“It would have been selfish of me to sign for a long period of time, drag her over here and she hated it.
“So far, so good. We’ve got friends who were already over here which has been really helpful.
“I’d like to spend a lot more time here. We just needed to make sure that it was all going to be good.”
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