An NRL contract looms large for dazzling Western Clydesdales fullback Chris Woodbridge after he won the Petero Civoniceva Medal for a stellar season in the state league.
The 25-year-old has met with Gold Coast coach Josh Hannay, and his management has fielded interest from other NRL clubs.
Woodbridge scored 16 tries, had 21 try assists and made 12 line-breaks in his 20 matches this season for the 16th-placed Clydesdales under coaches Ben and Shane Walker in the Queensland Cup.
Shane Walker said Woodbridge was "unique, with incredible instinct", while brother Ben said the closest style of player in the NRL today to him would be Titans playmaker Jayden Campbell.
"He is as talented a player as I have seen," Ben Walker told AAP.
"Just with his uncanny ability to make things happen, he is very similar to Jayden ... and a skinny little fella like him."
Campbell was on hand to meet with Woodbridge when the Titans came knocking.
"It was pretty special," Woodbridge said.
"I went down to meet Josh and Jayden Campbell and brought my family along for a meet and greet. It was great to meet those guys and see what they had done to get themselves there, and that is what I want to do.
"If there is an opportunity I will take it. (NRL) is still the dream."
Shane Walker said Woodbridge would benefit from a full-time weights and training program, but had done “two things we have never seen on a football field before”.
"Firstly, he does a high kick-off and catches it himself,” Walker enthused.
“I’ve never seen anyone catch their own kick-off. He hits it with his foot and scoops it high up over the 10m line and he sprints through and catches it.
“He also stands at halfback off a scrum and when the hooker goes to throw it to the first receiver he gets in between and intercepts it from an onside position … never seen it before."
Walker reflected on a moment in the Clydesdales' first win of the season against Tweed Heads that summed up his dazzling No.1
“Lindon McGrady made a break through the centre of the field and 10m out he went to draw and pass to his support runner, who would have scored under the posts," he said.
“Woody just ran at him at full pace and put himself straight on the pass, caught it and out-sprinted Allan Fitzgibbon 90 metres downfield and scored.''
Walker said that while Woodbridge was named at No.1 for the Clydesdales, he would make an ideal half in the NRL.
“For us he is a fullback in defence, and when we get the ball he becomes a halfback and occasionally runs sweep plays like a fullback," he said.
Woodbridge took out the prestigious Petero Civoniceva Medal at the QRL awards night on Thursday.
Legends such as Greg Inglis (2005), Daly Cherry-Evans (2010) and Cody Walker (2013) have previously won the award, and most recently the likes of Trai Fuller (2023) and Oliver Pascoe (2025) have received NRL deals.
"I am incredibly humbled to receive the award all my idols and superstars did growing up. It is pretty cool," Woodbridge said.
"I am a proud Indigenous man, so Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis were pretty big ones."
The Walker brothers, recognised as the best man managers not coaching in the NRL, unlocked the best in Woodbridge.
"They have welcomed not only myself, but my small little family with open arms and made footy really enjoyable again," Woodbridge said.
"I look forward to going to training and had a big smile on my face."
