There’s a serious battle unfolding in Canberra this summer as to who will wear the Raiders’ No. 9 jersey in 2023.
It’s Tom Starling, the man consistently told he was too small to make the NRL, versus the late-blooming son of a gun Zac Woolford.
Starling is fighting to be the Raiders’ starting hooker in Round 1 for the second year in a row after going head-to-head with Josh Hodgson last summer.
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The 24-year-old was given the job last year after Hodgson went down in the season opener, but the Raiders then signed Woolford on a train-and-trial deal.
Woolford, 26, made his debut in Magic Round and went on to start 16 of his 17 games last season, recording eight try assists and playing in two semi-finals.
This time last year the son of Raiders great Simon Woolford had long given up on his NRL dream, but now wants to ensure he’s not a one-hit wonder.
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Starling endured an interrupted 2022 with a court case hanging over his head, but on Friday charges of hindering police in a wild brawl were dropped.
The crafty hooker admits it impacted his form but Starling is determined to put the sorry saga behind him and focus on footy in 2023.
Foxsports.com.au spoke to both players ahead of Canberra’s first trial against the Bulldogs in Moruya on Sunday afternoon.
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THE SIMILAR JOURNEYS
Starling made his NRL debut at the Knights in the final round of 2018 but was released by the club just a few weeks later.
At just 20, his career was at a crossroads and Starling headed for the Queensland Cup before Raiders forward Hudson Young went into bat for his former Newcastle teammate.
Young told Canberra officials to take a punt on the 172cm pocket rocket, and Starling grabbed his opportunity with both hands – making 60 appearances over the past four seasons.
Woolford captained the Raiders under-20 side before joining the Bulldogs on a two-year deal and then landing at the Knights in 2019 to replace Starling.
But things didn’t work out in Newcastle and as Covid ruined the 2020 and 2021 NSW Cup seasons, Woolford found himself playing club rugby union in Sydney.
The hooker committed to the Newtown Jets last year for what Woolford believed would be his last season in rugby league – then fate came knocking.
“I was going to a game at Leichhardt against the Knights and dad was being really weird and he’s normally pretty cruisy,” Woolford told foxsports.com.au.
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“Game day morning he was asking if I was reading and this and that and by the time I got off the field he’d been in touch with a few people down here (in Canberra) and he said they’re probably going to get you down for a month for a train and trial to see how you go.
“I was enjoying Sydney and I spoke to dad whether it was going to be worth it and he said ‘of course it is, one last chance’.
“Also just a bit of (NRL) closure, I never got that, so it was a bit of a no-brainer in the end.”
THE FRIENDLY RIVALRY
They might be vying for the same spot – and whoever wins that battle will also win big on their next contract – but the hookers are great mates off the field.
Starling delivered one his zingers when asked about his rivalry with Woolford.
“It’s good mate, iron sharpens iron,” Starling said.
“We built up a bit of a combination there last year and it’s always good competition. I enjoy that aspect of pre-season.
“When you’re coming in and competing against each other it makes the team better and makes individuals better, I’m enjoying it.”
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Woolford wasn’t sure what to expect from Starling after turning up in Canberra looking to take his jersey, but was pleasantly surprised.
“We actually get along really well, me and Tommy. It’s a funny one, I could have come down here and he could have been filthy but we get along great,” Woolford said.
“There’s games where he’ll play the majority and games where I’ll play the majority. We obviously have different skill sets, but every game is different so whatever works.
“We play golf together and are NFL mad. He’s a good mate Tommy.”
THE 2022 GOALS
Ricky Stuart plans to again use the players in tandem in 2023 and the duo emphasise they are willing to play whatever role the team needs.
But make no mistake – they’re both gunning for the No. 9 jersey.
Starling admits his form dipped below his own expectations in 2022 but, with his court date behind him, is confident he’ll return to his best this year.
“Whatever Stick sees fit for the makeup of the team, whether it’s on the bench or starting, I’m happy to do whatever, I’m just looking to improve my game again,” he said.
“I was a bit patchy last year if I’m being honest with myself, some of my performances weren’t up to my standard and I’m just looking to find that consistency again and take my game to the next level.
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“It could have been the off-field stuff, I obviously had a court date in the middle of the year which is not the sort of thing you want happening in the middle of a season.
“I lost a little bit of form and had to fight to get it back and found a bit in the back end of the season. Sometimes that happens and you’ve just got to bounce back. I just need to be a bit more consistent this year.”
Woolford is determined to ensure his 2022 breakout season wasn’t a flash in the pan.
“Hopefully I can perform in the trials and have that No. 9 in Townsville,” he said.
“I’m working on my defence, I can run all day but until you’re out there playing quality opposition… a couple of times last year I was probably getting a little tired. So I’ve been working on my wrestling under fatigue and defence movements.
“The goal now is to play NRL every week. I want to be there in Round 1 and I want to be there in Round 27. I don’t want last year to be a one-hit wonder thing, I want to be an NRL player.”
