Danny McGuire
Encyclopedia
Danny McGuire is an English professional rugby league
player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos
in the Super League
. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy.
against the Salford City Reds
in July 2001.
By the start of the 2003 Super League season, McGuire had established himself as a first-team regular.
But it was the 2004 season when McGuire really showed what he could do. He ended the season having scored 39 tries in all competitions, including a Super League record of 5 in one match against the Widnes Vikings
. It was just one fewer than the Super League's Top Try Scorer, Bradford's Lesley Vainikolo
, scored that season.
McGuire's superb form resulted in him being awarded the Rugby League Writers Association Player of the Year and resulted in him being named in the 2004 Tetley’s Super League Dream Team.
The 2004 season also saw McGuire & his Rhinos' teammates win the club's first Super League title.
, ending a 32-year wait for the Championship, defeating the Bradford Bulls
16-8, scoring a try. The second in 2007
, this time defeating St Helens 33-6. The third in 2008
, again defeating St Helens in a closer affair than the year before. The Rhinos winning 24-16, with McGuire scoring two tries in the second-half to ensure victory. The fourth came in 2009
, defeating St Helens for a third year in a row, 18-10. His fifth and latest win, again against St Helens
, came in 2011 with Leeds Rhinos
coming from 5th in the regular season table to win 32-16 in the 2011 Super League Grand Final
at Old Trafford
.
McGuire also suffered Grand Final defeat in 2005
in a rematch of the 2004 Final against the Bradford bulls. McGuire scored the Rhinos' only try in a 15-6 defeat.
McGuire's season ended in controversy though during the Rhino's win in their first play-off match against the eventual champions, the Wigan Warriors
. With just moments remaining in the match, the Rhinos led 27-26, when Wigan broke down the left of the field. McGuire was ajudged to have pulled back Wigan's George Carmont
, preventing him from scoring a potential match-winning try. But in doing so, McGuire suffered a serious knee injury which would rule him out for up to six months, meaning he'd miss the remainder of the season & the start of the next.
Former Wigan star Phil Clarke
caused further controversy by writing, 'Perhaps the rugby Gods have punished him (McGuire) for his unsportsmanlike play', on his blog on the Sky Sports website.
tournament. He made his debut off the bench in Great Britain's first game defeat against Australia.
He then made his first start for Great Britain in their next match against New Zealand
, playing a key role & creating the try which ensured a 22-12 victory.
.
Before the tournament, McGuire was named as one of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup 'Players to Watch' by Australian website NRL Live.
However, McGuire and the rest of the England squad failed to impress at the tournament. After coming from behind to scrape past Papua New Guinea
32-22 in the opening game of the tournament, England then lost 52-4 to host nation and tournament favourites Australia. McGuire was left out of the squad for England's final group game, where they surrendered a 24-12 half-time lead, to lose 36-24 to New Zealand.
McGuire started his first game of the tournament against New Zealand in the semi-final. It also proved to be his last as, despite scoring two tries, McGuire could not prevent England losing 32-22 and being eliminated.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who currently plays for the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. His preferred position is at /. He has played his entire career to date with the Rhinos, having come through the club's Academy.
Early years
McGuire signed for the Rhinos from local team East Leeds ARLFC. McGuire impressed for the Academy side & made his debut for the Rhinos 1st team at Headingley StadiumHeadingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
against the Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in July 2001.
By the start of the 2003 Super League season, McGuire had established himself as a first-team regular.
But it was the 2004 season when McGuire really showed what he could do. He ended the season having scored 39 tries in all competitions, including a Super League record of 5 in one match against the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
. It was just one fewer than the Super League's Top Try Scorer, Bradford's Lesley Vainikolo
Lesley Vainikolo
Lesley Vainikolo is a dual code professional rugby football player who currently plays for Gloucester Rugby. He plays on the wing....
, scored that season.
McGuire's superb form resulted in him being awarded the Rugby League Writers Association Player of the Year and resulted in him being named in the 2004 Tetley’s Super League Dream Team.
The 2004 season also saw McGuire & his Rhinos' teammates win the club's first Super League title.
Grand Finals
McGuire has played an integral part in all five of the Rhinos Super League Grand Final winning teams. The first in 20042004 Super League Grand Final
The 2004 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 16 October 2004, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The game was played between Leeds Rhinos, who finished top of the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Bradford Bulls, who finished second after the weekly rounds.-Route to final:Regular...
, ending a 32-year wait for the Championship, defeating the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
16-8, scoring a try. The second in 2007
2007 Super League Grand Final
The 2007 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 13 October 2007, at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. The game was played between St Helens, who finished top of the league after the 27 weekly rounds, and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second after the weekly rounds.-Route to final:Regular...
, this time defeating St Helens 33-6. The third in 2008
2008 Super League Grand Final
The 2008 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 4 October 2008, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The match was between Super League XIII League Leaders St Helens and defending champions from 2007 Leeds Rhinos.-Route to final:...
, again defeating St Helens in a closer affair than the year before. The Rhinos winning 24-16, with McGuire scoring two tries in the second-half to ensure victory. The fourth came in 2009
2009 Super League Grand Final
The 2009 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 10 October 2009, at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK. The match was contested by defending champions and 2009 League Leaders Leeds Rhinos, and the team they had faced in the grand final for the past two years, St Helens.The 2009 decider, contested...
, defeating St Helens for a third year in a row, 18-10. His fifth and latest win, again against St Helens
St Helens
-Places:Australia* St Helens, Tasmania** St Helens Airport** St Helens Important Bird Area* St Helens Island, TasmaniaUnited Kingdom* St Helens, Merseyside, England** Metropolitan Borough of St Helens** St Helens Central railway station...
, came in 2011 with Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
coming from 5th in the regular season table to win 32-16 in the 2011 Super League Grand Final
2011 Super League Grand Final
The 2011 Super League Grand Final is the conclusive and championship-deciding game of the Super League XVI season. It will be held on Saturday, 8 October at Manchester, England's Old Trafford stadium. The match was contested by St Helens RFC and the Leeds Rhinos, who last faced each other in a...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
.
McGuire also suffered Grand Final defeat in 2005
2005 Super League Grand Final
The 2005 Super League Grand Final was held on Saturday 15 October 2005, at Old Trafford, Manchester, England. The game was played between Bradford Bulls, who finished 3rd in the league after the 28 weekly rounds, and Leeds Rhinos, who finished second after the weekly rounds.-Route to final:Regular...
in a rematch of the 2004 Final against the Bradford bulls. McGuire scored the Rhinos' only try in a 15-6 defeat.
2010 Season
After winning three titles in a row, the Rhinos struggled in 2010. McGuire excelled though, scoring 27 tries in 32 games. His equal best since his excellent 2004 season.McGuire's season ended in controversy though during the Rhino's win in their first play-off match against the eventual champions, the Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
. With just moments remaining in the match, the Rhinos led 27-26, when Wigan broke down the left of the field. McGuire was ajudged to have pulled back Wigan's George Carmont
George Carmont
George Carmont is a professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League competition...
, preventing him from scoring a potential match-winning try. But in doing so, McGuire suffered a serious knee injury which would rule him out for up to six months, meaning he'd miss the remainder of the season & the start of the next.
Former Wigan star Phil Clarke
Phil Clarke
Phil Clarke is an English rugby league football commentator and former professional player of the 1980s and 90s. A Great Britain and England international representative loose forward, he spent his club career with Wigan, as well as a stint in Australia with the Sydney Roosters.Phil Clarke is the...
caused further controversy by writing, 'Perhaps the rugby Gods have punished him (McGuire) for his unsportsmanlike play', on his blog on the Sky Sports website.
Representative career
On the back of his superb season in 2004, McGuire was named in the Great Britain squad for the Tri-NationsRugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
tournament. He made his debut off the bench in Great Britain's first game defeat against Australia.
He then made his first start for Great Britain in their next match against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, playing a key role & creating the try which ensured a 22-12 victory.
World Cup
In 2008, McGuire was named, along with seven Rhinos' teammates, in England, & former Rhinos, coach Tony Smith's 24-man squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
Before the tournament, McGuire was named as one of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup 'Players to Watch' by Australian website NRL Live.
However, McGuire and the rest of the England squad failed to impress at the tournament. After coming from behind to scrape past Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
32-22 in the opening game of the tournament, England then lost 52-4 to host nation and tournament favourites Australia. McGuire was left out of the squad for England's final group game, where they surrendered a 24-12 half-time lead, to lose 36-24 to New Zealand.
McGuire started his first game of the tournament against New Zealand in the semi-final. It also proved to be his last as, despite scoring two tries, McGuire could not prevent England losing 32-22 and being eliminated.