Blues prop Aaron Woods has described Andrew Fifita's Origin heroics as arguably the greatest performance he's witnessed from a front-rower.
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Woods likened Fifita's barnstorming performance in the opening game of the series to watching a big kid run over the top of little kids in a junior footy game.
Woods and Fifita came through the grades together at the Wests Tigers and share a close bond, which is why the Tigers skipper was more than happy to see his starting front row partner to earn the praise he's had.
"Fifita's had a tough 18 months with everything that's happened in the past," Woods said.
"I played 20s with him at the Tigers. He's one of my best mates here. To see how hard he has worked off the field to get his head right. If you talk to him he's very open about what he's been through. The way he played the other night, I saw that on a weekly basis in the 20s so it wasn't a surprise. The only surprise was that he did it at that level. It was like a big kid playing against the little kids when you watch those junior footy games.
"He was just amazing. It was one of the best performances I've ever seen from a front-rower. I can't do the things he does. All I want to do is make my tackles in the middle and go forward; if I help Fifita out by doing that, that's what I will be doing. I didn't notice it too much on the field but when I watched the highlights after the game, he was just running amok. That's what he used to do when we were in the 20s. He's got a big fend, really good leg speed. Just to see him do it at that level, I was just happy for him."
Fifita has battled with depression over the past couple of years and his career has been marred by off-field controversy. Woods said he once feared the game would not get the chance to see the best of Fifita.
"Yeah, definitely," Woods said when asked if he had concerns over Fifita's ability to reach his potential.
"I was texting him to make sure he was OK. He's always a really positive guy if you get to know him. He's real loud and energetic. He's a really good person to have around the group. He's real infectious on everybody. When a young guy comes into a squad, he just pumps them up.
"There were times where I was a bit worried about him but he has come back bigger and stronger. He's won a grand final and was almost the best player on the field, just missing out on the Clive Churchill. To come back this year and play for Australia and NSW the way he has done, it's a credit to him and his family."
