Josh McGuire cops massive Super League suspension following ‘unacceptable’ act

The start of Josh McGuire’s Super League career has been mired in controversy as the former Australia and Queensland representative has been suspended for seven games after being sacked during Warrington’s final preseason game against Leigh.

The forward was sent off and later slapped with a Class F charge by Rugby Football League, citing how he used “unacceptable language” towards an opponent.

Why was Josh McGuire banned for seven games?

The arsonist, who appeared in a testimonial match for his new club to celebrate Warrington and Ireland striker Ben Currie, was sent off after he was involved in a heated incident with fellow Australian Tom Amone.

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“Josh McGuire has been found guilty of using unacceptable language (disability discrimination) to an opponent during his team’s final preseason game against the Leigh Leopards at Halliwell Jones Stadium,” the RFL said in a statement.

“McGuire was released mid-game and referred to the tribunal on a Level F charge with at least a six-game suspension. He will also be fined £1,000 and required to complete compulsory education. McGuire will be suspended for seven games.”

Amone was also tried for his involvement in the incident but was found not guilty on the same charges.

McGuire’s suspension continues a career trend in which he couldn’t stay out of trouble.

In his senior year in the NRL with the Dragons, he served a five-game suspension early in the season stemming from two separate careless high tackle charges during his side’s 2021 finals loss to the Rabbitohs.

This comes after he was previously wiped out for five games in his debut campaign for St. George when he was quoted for a hip drop tackle on Josh Addo-Carr during the Magic Round.

In all, he missed 10 games through suspension in 2021 while facing a further five charges in the two years prior, resulting in him being classified as a liability in the final stages of his playing days in Australia.

When will Josh McGuire return to Warrington after his suspension?

McGuire had revealed in the off-season that he had turned down a chance to play for Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup in order to settle down at his new club.

The 32-year-old expressed his desire to lead from the front for Warrington after they endured a miserable season in 2022 that eventually ended in 11th, which is their worst Super League result ever.

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“I wanted to play the World Cup with Samoa,” he told the Warrington Guardian.

“I talked to Daryl Powell and Karl (Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive) about it, we talked about it and decided that the best thing for me to do is to come straight and get going preseason.

“If I had played at the World Cup, I would not have been here until January. I would have missed the chance to build those relationships with the guys.”

However, McGuire will now miss the first quarter of the Wolves season and is not allowed to make his debut until April at the earliest.

What is the longest ban ever imposed in the Super League?

McGuire has continued a current pattern of former NRL players suffering major suspensions after moving to the UK.

Former Sydney Roosters forward Dylan Napa had an eerily similar start for the Catalans in 2022 when he was sent off on his debut for the French team.

After shooting up St Helens’ Mark Percival with a brutal headshot, he received his marching orders and was suspended for four games before also being handed a five-game suspension later in the season for strikes.

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Last year, former Parramatta striker Kenny Edwards was also banned for ten games after an independent court ruled that he had made inappropriate contact with Catalan support Sam Kasiano.

Although those suspensions pale in comparison to the biggest suspension ever imposed in the Super League when Ben Flower made global headlines during the 2014 Grand Final.

The prop hit Saints playmaker Lance Hohaia and then proceeded to hit the Kiwi again while he was unconscious on the ground.

Flower was sent off and charged with a Class F offense that carried a minimum of eight weeks’ ban, although the Wales international was eventually suspended for six months.