Mal tips McGuire for big 2017

[Super Freak]

MAL Meninga did not take Josh McGuire on the Four Nations tour but says he shapes as the No. 13 for the Broncos and Queensland next year.

Corey Parker’s retirement leaves the key workrate spot up for grabs at club and state level.

Asked who he would see as being the lock for the Broncos and Queensland in Parker’s absence, Test coach Meninga said: “I have no doubt Josh would be the perfect person to put in that role.

“He’s got a good motor and can play a lot of game time. He’s solid and can offload.

“He’ll be the ideal candidate. The more he plays that role, the better he will get at it. He’s played at No. 13 before and he has handled it.’’

McGuire, who played prop for Brisbane, Queensland and in one Test for Australia this year, was not selected for Australia’s end-of-year Four Nations tour. NSW forward Trent Merrin played at lock on the tour instead of Parker, with Blues pack contenders Shannon Boyd and Tyson Frizell also making strides in England under Meninga’s coaching.

McGuire was the leading metre-maker for the Broncos from prop last year with an average of 135m from 15 runs, as well as 29 tackles a game in the regular season. Parker’s final season averaged out at 119m from 14 carries and 27 tackles.

Jai Arrow is one of the other Broncos to put their hand up publicly as wanting the role vacated by Parker. Meninga sees his home state providing three NRL finals teams again next year.

“I’d anticipate the depth of the Queensland teams will allow all three of them to make the eight but it’s too hard to know at this stage who’s the best chance of them,’’ he said.

“The Titans have bought really well and have a strong roster if they can stay healthy. Jarryd Hayne and Konrad Hurrell had some games last year for them and they have Kevin Proctor and Kane Elgey available.

“The Broncos and the Cowboys will always be around in the run in.’’

The Titans have lost Greg Bird, Josh Hoffman, Luke Douglas, Nathan Friend, Nene Macdonald and David Mead and are only equal 10th in UBET’s final-eight betting market.

The Titans, Eels and Sea Eagles are all $2.10 chances to make the finals, with nine teams ahead of them, headed by joint favourites Brisbane, North Queensland and Melbourne (all $1.30).

Despite being eliminated in the second week of the finals this year, the Broncos are $7.50 favourites in a compressed market, ahead of the Cowboys, Storm and Panthers at $8. Gold Coast are $15 title shots.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...7/news-story/8967f500a9507c0f19cf3d50cab434a5

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Well I guess that all but confirms McGuire to Origin unless he is injured

 

[Huge]

Funny how the wheel turns...Three years ago I suggested McGuire would make a better second rower or lock and I was told in no uncertain terms that suggestion was ridiculous ! The smarter ones around did indeed think lock was fair enough but second row was just too crazy ! Maybe they were right but I always thought he could play a role elsewhere. Now big Mal agrees with me. It's really beginning to look like we will have a different front row partnership next year

 

[Cult]

 

[Foordy]

The problem is that while we have several players that could fill Parker's vacated role (including McGuire) ... we have no one that could fill McGuire's role should we move him from prop

 

[Kyall]

McGuire was always going to make the origin team from this season onwards.

Again we have all said it there are only a hand full of players to play lock. Our front row stocks are too low.

 

[Alec]

To be honest, our lock stocks are low too. After McGuire, the front runner seems to be Arrow, who hasn't impressed any more than Ese'ese, Molo or Boyce or whatever.

 

[Art Vandelay]

To be honest, our lock stocks are low too. After McGuire, the front runner seems to be Arrow, who hasn't impressed any more than Ese'ese, Molo or Boyce or whatever.

I would have thought the frontrunner would have been Glenn, given he played more minutes than Arrow in every single game they were both in the side.

Also, just by way of pure speculation, Glenn started on the edge with Thaiday off the bench until Parker announced his retirement. After Parker's announcement there were a string of games where we were missing Glenn or Gillett but as soon as we had our full backrow contingent available again Glenn was playing in the middle third off the bench. Most people judged it a wake-up call but at the time I personally thought Glenn's form was less deserving of punishment than many other senior players. Maybe it was an audition for the 13 jersey in 2017.