He’s the smiling assassin from Leichhardt who pushed his Test claims with a barnstorming effort against one of the most brutal teams in the competition on Sunday afternoon.

Aaron Woods is 80 minutes closer to a possible maiden Kangaroos jersey after taking the fight up to the Manly forwards – with a smile of course – and lived to tell the tale.

Playing at Leichhardt Oval for the first time this season, Woods saved his best for the ground of his childhood dreams, scoring a try and being denied another on an afternoon where he ran for 20 hit-ups and 160 metres.

‘‘He was pretty excited to play here today, Woodsy,’’ captain Robbie Farah said. ‘‘He’s like me, a Balmain junior and we both love this place. When he scored that try I thought he was going to jump the fence and celebrate with the fans. He thought he had a double, the big fellow, but it got called back. He was outstanding today and has been red hot for us the last 18 months.’’

Manly made a huge attempt to lure Woods to the northern beaches at the start of the season, and after his display on Sunday, it’s no wonder they were so desperate to acquire his signature.

Woods grew up idolising Manly, even though he lived close to Leichhardt Oval, and said nothing compared to the feeling of playing at the iconic suburban ground.

‘‘I grew up around the corner,’’ Woods said. ‘‘Nothing beats Leichhardt Oval. I like coming to Leichhardt Oval. It took me five minutes to walk up the road.

‘‘I used to come with my mates. All of them are Tigers supporters. I was a big Manly fan. I used to love Steve Menzies and 'Toovs' [Manly coach Geoff Toovey].’’

While Andrew Fifita, Matt Scott and James Tamou are the favourites for the Australian front-row positions, Farah believes Woods is hot on their trail.

‘‘He’d be in the mix,’’ Farah said. ‘‘He’s been playing great footy for us for a long time. He got his opportunity in Origin last year, and I said last year when he got his first jumper that it would be the first of many. I still believe that.

‘‘I think he’s a rep player for the next 10 years and it won’t be long before he’s wearing the green and gold as well.’’

While Woods was in good form last year, the Tigers skipper said there is a vast improvement in the Tigers’ forward pack.

Last year, with all due respect to the guys we had there, Woodsy was shouldering the load there and when he went off the park, the rotation we had we probably struggled a bit with that,’’ Farah said.

‘‘But the guys we have coming off the bench now ... with Woodsy and Keithy starting the game, you’ve got James [Gavet], Marty [Taupau] and Ava [Seumanufagai] - guys like those guys coming off the bench, we’re just keeping that momentum up. It definitely helps me, Brooksy and Braith.’’