Queenslander Geoff Woodward is winging his way back to Australia and out of York Rugby League Club's Second Division promotion challenge.

Coach Dean Robinson revealed that the Wasps' 26-year-old winger was heading home after learning of a "personal family problem".

Robinson claimed the loss of Woodward was a blow as the club prepare for their top of the table battle with third-placed Oldham at Huntington Stadium on Sunday.

And the coach declared it unlikely that the winger would return to England before the end of the current season.

"Geoff is having to go back to Australia due to a personal family problem and will leave as early as this Sunday," said Robinson.

"I have no idea what the problem is. It is some family illness that has resulted in him having to fly home at a fast rate of knots."

Woodward signed a one-year deal in March and made his senior debut in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup fourth round against Swinton Lions.

The winger scored a magnificent length-of-the-field interception try in the Wasps' 39-21 defeat at Gigg Lane but has since figured in the first team just twice, at Batley Bulldogs and Lancashire Lynx.

However, the end of the Queenslander's second spell with the club, following on from a brief stay under coach Steve Crooks four years ago, may not be the end of his Wasps career.

Said Robinson: "We are going to leave it open ended. I think he will have a lot of commitments when he gets back home so we have probably seen the last of him for this season.

"These things happen. He has given 100 per cent while he has been here and there is no doubt of the calibre of the player. It is one of those unfortunate things. He goes with our best wishes."

The coach added that Woodward was not being released by the club and he would, therefore, not be lining up an immediate replacement.

There is already ample cover for the wing slots, with Leigh Deakin, Chris Hopcutt, Jamie Benn and Scott Limb supplemented by the emerging talent of Alex Godfrey.

"As luck would have it, we have got strength within the squad to cover the loss of Geoff. But it is something we could have done without," said Robinson.

"It leaves me a slot on the overseas quota but to do that I would have to release him but, until things become clearer, I am not going to do that." <!C-#include virtual="/ep/sportfooter.html"

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