Super Freak
International Captain
Forum Staff
- Jan 25, 2014
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MAROONS enforcer Josh McGuire has pledged to help bring a premiership back to the Broncos after fighting back from the worst injury of his career.
Speaking for the first time since tearing his Achilles in June, McGuire opened up about the dual pain of missing Queensland’s Origin series win and Brisbane’s grand-final surge.
The 25-year-old yesterday buried the most bittersweet campaign of his career when he launched his 2016 pre-season at the University of Queensland at St Lucia.
Every drop of sweat he expelled in Brisbane’s stifling heat helped expunge the disappointment of being a passenger during what should have been twin high-points of his career.
The first body blow came in July, when McGuire missed Queensland’s record-breaking 52-6 rout of NSW in the Origin decider after snapping his achilles a fortnight earlier.
Then came the ultimate salt to the wound — watching Brisbane’s crushing grand-final loss to the Cowboys from the stands instead of spearheading their premiership tilt from the engine room.
If anyone personifies the Broncos’ desire to break the longest title drought in their 28-year history next season, it is the firebrand front-rower they call ‘Moose’.
“I want that premiership this year ... more than ever,” McGuire said.
“The premiership is that dream you have as a team when you come together at the start of the year. We have that one common goal. Origin is a personal thing but winning a grand final is a group task and it’s something you work together for.
“I was shattered for the boys. I guess one more tackle and we win the comp, but that’s behind us now and we have to move on. The boys will come back ready and hungry to go one better next year.
“It feels great to be back training again, it’s a big weight off my shoulders.”
McGuire admits he struggled mentally during the finals after amassing 127 NRL games in the past six years in pursuit of a grand-final appearance.
“It was devastating to miss the GF,” he said. “My whole life I’ve wanted to play a grand final. I went through the hard years and then it gets taken away from you.
“I was happy for Wayne (Bennett, coach) and the boys and they made me feel part of grand final week, but within it doesn’t feel the same.
“To miss Origin three was a kick in the guts as well. I finally made Origin and achieved a childhood dream, but then it was taken away so quickly.
“It was the best year and worst year for me all rolled into one.”
McGuire declared himself 100 per cent fit and is hoping to be named for the Auckland Nines ahead of Brisbane’s World Club Series trip to England.
“I’ve started running and it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost any speed or power. I’ve made a full recovery,” he said.
“I don’t want to come back the same, I want to come back an even better player and I feel I can.
“I’m doing everything at training, I’m sprinting and changing direction, the docs will hold me back a little bit just as a precaution but in my head I’m 100 per cent and ready to go.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ne-a-premiership/story-fnp0lyn6-1227617371674
Speaking for the first time since tearing his Achilles in June, McGuire opened up about the dual pain of missing Queensland’s Origin series win and Brisbane’s grand-final surge.
The 25-year-old yesterday buried the most bittersweet campaign of his career when he launched his 2016 pre-season at the University of Queensland at St Lucia.
Every drop of sweat he expelled in Brisbane’s stifling heat helped expunge the disappointment of being a passenger during what should have been twin high-points of his career.
The first body blow came in July, when McGuire missed Queensland’s record-breaking 52-6 rout of NSW in the Origin decider after snapping his achilles a fortnight earlier.
Then came the ultimate salt to the wound — watching Brisbane’s crushing grand-final loss to the Cowboys from the stands instead of spearheading their premiership tilt from the engine room.
If anyone personifies the Broncos’ desire to break the longest title drought in their 28-year history next season, it is the firebrand front-rower they call ‘Moose’.
“I want that premiership this year ... more than ever,” McGuire said.
“The premiership is that dream you have as a team when you come together at the start of the year. We have that one common goal. Origin is a personal thing but winning a grand final is a group task and it’s something you work together for.
“I was shattered for the boys. I guess one more tackle and we win the comp, but that’s behind us now and we have to move on. The boys will come back ready and hungry to go one better next year.
“It feels great to be back training again, it’s a big weight off my shoulders.”
McGuire admits he struggled mentally during the finals after amassing 127 NRL games in the past six years in pursuit of a grand-final appearance.
“It was devastating to miss the GF,” he said. “My whole life I’ve wanted to play a grand final. I went through the hard years and then it gets taken away from you.
“I was happy for Wayne (Bennett, coach) and the boys and they made me feel part of grand final week, but within it doesn’t feel the same.
“To miss Origin three was a kick in the guts as well. I finally made Origin and achieved a childhood dream, but then it was taken away so quickly.
“It was the best year and worst year for me all rolled into one.”
McGuire declared himself 100 per cent fit and is hoping to be named for the Auckland Nines ahead of Brisbane’s World Club Series trip to England.
“I’ve started running and it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost any speed or power. I’ve made a full recovery,” he said.
“I don’t want to come back the same, I want to come back an even better player and I feel I can.
“I’m doing everything at training, I’m sprinting and changing direction, the docs will hold me back a little bit just as a precaution but in my head I’m 100 per cent and ready to go.”
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ne-a-premiership/story-fnp0lyn6-1227617371674
