From 'home invasions' to Neddy Smith – the wild world of Nathan Wood

In the latest episode of Kenty Prime Time, hosts Paul Kent and Johnny Elias sat down with former Balmain and Roosters playmaker Nathan Wood. The conversation was a raw trip through the 90s and early 2000s, revealing a locker room culture of extreme pranks, run-ins with legendary coaches, and a terrifying introduction to one of Australia’s most notorious criminals.

The Art of the 'Home Invasion'

Wood, a serial prankster, revealed a hobby that would baffle modern HR departments: breaking into teammates' homes. One legendary tale involved hiding behind Luke Ricketson’s fridge for twenty minutes, waiting to leap out as the lock reached for a drink. However, not all targets were seasoned pros. While playing for the Warriors, Wood snuck into coach Ivan Cleary’s house to give him a fright, only to jump out of a wardrobe and find a three-year-old Nathan Cleary standing there alone. Wood admitted the future superstar was left "understandably traumatised."

Falling Out with Gus Gould

The discussion turned to the friction that defined Wood’s stint at the Roosters under Phil Gould. Wood claimed the tension began when Gould warned him off associating with Johnny Elias. When Elias eventually confronted Gould over the remarks, the fallout was swift. Wood described being systematically pushed out of the side, a move he attributed to Gould’s belief that Wood had "given him up" by relaying the private conversation.

"I think he blotted his copy book in the way he's handled this," Wood noted when reflecting on the politics of the era. Years later, Gould reportedly admitted he had held a grudge over the incident.

Meeting 'The Father-in-Law' at Long Bay

Perhaps the most gripping segment involved Wood’s first meeting with his former partner's father: the infamous Neddy Smith. At the time, Smith was serving multiple life sentences at Long Bay Jail. Wood was warned that Smith would "test the water" with any new suitor.

The test was a blunt interrogation regarding Wood’s relationship with Smith's daughter. Knowing he couldn't show fear, Wood’s honest "yeah, I am" response won the gangster over. Smith laughed and remarked that Wood would be "mad if he wasn't."

The Night of the Missing Ear

The grit of the era was best illustrated by an incident involving Daryl Halligan. After a scuffle resulted in Halligan having part of his ear bitten off, Wood discovered the severed anatomy being used as a makeshift doorstop under a bathroom door. "I found the severed piece of ear being used as a doorstop," Wood recalled. He retrieved it, placed it in a glass of ice, and rushed it to the hospital for reattachment.

Life in the Packer Circle

Wood also shared surreal memories of Kerry Packer, through his father’s role as Packer's trainer. He described being driven to matches by the tycoon in a custom Nissan GTR, with Packer driving "sideways through the streets" at breakneck speeds in total silence. It was a world of unimaginable wealth, where Packer would reportedly sweep a million dollars in winnings onto the floor simply because he was "too tired" to count it.

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.