To the fan in the stand, the only thing holding Sam Wood back in the first half of 2025 was his form.
The centre had just taken on the captaincy at Castleford Tigers and was struggling to lead through his actions, no matter how hard he tried.
But what supporters didn’t see were the injections and the effort it took just to get through each game.
Ultimately, Wood was forced to respect the limits of his body and take a few weeks off to rest his shoulder, revealing the side of rugby league he had done his best to keep hidden.
Wood felt more like his old self later in the campaign but a fresh start was required, leading him to York Knights.
“I felt it was the right time for me to find a new challenge,” said the former Huddersfield Giants and Hull KR man.
“I gave everything to that club. I came under a bit of scrutiny from people at the start of the year because my performances weren’t quite up to scratch, which is fine because people are entitled to their opinion.
“I don’t think it was a lack of effort. I was working twice as hard in training to try and put things right.
“But I was playing busted. The fans don’t see the injections you have to have week to week just to get through games.
“I didn’t want to let Magsy (Danny McGuire, Castleford head coach at the time) down because he put a lot of faith in me as captain. I probably did myself a bit of a disservice but I didn’t want to let the lads or coaches down.
“I was happy with how I finished the season and left on good terms. I’ll always thank Castleford for the opportunity but it was time to move on.”
Having earned an England cap only 18 months ago, Wood arrives at York with a proven pedigree.
And yet there is an element of having to demonstrate his value all over again after leaving the Tigers early for the Super League newcomers.
As well as offering the chance to show he is still capable of producing the form that caught Shaun Wane’s eye, the switch provides the security the 28-year-old craves at this stage of his career.
“It was the ambition of the club and wanting a fresh start personally,” he replied when asked why he chose York.
“It was obviously a massive decision but it was the right move for me and my family.
“We had our son 11 weeks ago and looking after them off the field was just as important as me being happy on the field.
“York are ticking all the boxes. It sounds like a cliché but they’re such a fantastic group of people. From the outside, I thought it might be a little bit difficult because of how close they are but they’re such a grounded group. There are no egos and the coaches are so positive.
“It’s a credit to the group for how easy they’ve made my transition. I’m absolutely loving it.”
There is a tangible sense of excitement around York as they prepare for their first season in Super League.
Fresh from claiming two trophies at Championship level and proving they were ready for the big time, the Knights have convinced a host of seasoned campaigners to join them on their maiden journey.
Wood has quickly sensed what the breakthrough means to the club and wider community.
“Mash (Mark Applegarth, head coach) has spoken a lot about the fact that we’re history-makers,” said Wood.
“We’re custodians of the shirt and want to leave it in the best place possible for when the next generation come through and are able to play for York in Super League.
“When you’ve got a really good group of players who are all working together towards a common goal, it’s a special place to be.”
While Applegarth’s class of 2026 are in a privileged position, the first steps may just be the hardest.
But in every challenge lies an opportunity – and it is one that Wood is relishing.
“The coaches are filling me with a lot of confidence,” he said. “I’m a confidence player so that’s what I need sometimes.
“I’ve got the fire in my belly to get back to my best. I had a really good off-season where I didn’t have to have any surgeries, which obviously helps massively leading into a pre-season.
“I want to start the year on a good note. If I do that, the rest of my goals will take care of themselves.
“As a club, we’re definitely aiming to surprise people. We’re quietly confident within our own four walls.
“Hopefully we can show that once the season comes around. I’m looking forward to seeing what the year brings.”
