Kevin McGuinness
Encyclopedia
Kevin McGuinness is an Indigenous Australian
retired professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for Salford City Reds
in the UK Super League
, the Western Suburbs Magpies
, Wests Tigers
and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
in the Australian National Rugby League
(NRL) competition. His position of choice is at centre.
While attending Sarah Redfern High School, McGuinness played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1995.
McGuinness was graded to Western Suburbs in 1995 when he was 18 and played alongside his older brother, Ken
, for two seasons.
In 2001, Kevin McGuinness, along with fellow Tiger, Craig Field
, were banned by the NRL for six months after testing positive to illegal substances. After undergoing counselling, McGuinness returned to premier league two months before the ban was lifted and was back with the first grade team for round 23 against the Newcastle Knights
at Campbelltown Stadium
, where he scored a try.
McGuinness set the record for the most tries scored in a match by a Wests Tigers
player on August 4, 2002, when he scored 4 tries against Souths
.
In 2004, after a season at Manly, McGuinness moved to the Salford City Reds. While at Salford he became a firm fans' favourite, and earned the nickname "The Buddha." He left the Salford City Reds at the end of the 2007 season, and though quite a few players left at the end of that year, he in particular, received a standing ovation
, with sections of the crowd chanting "Buddha, Buddha, Buddha," as a homage to the player.
After retiring from the highest level of a football, McGuiness won 2 premierships with Wollongong Wests in the Illawarra competition. In 2011, he joined the Queanbeyan Blues in Canberra's Group 8.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
retired professional rugby league
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...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for 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 the UK 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...
, the Western Suburbs Magpies
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
in the Australian National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) competition. His position of choice is at centre.
While attending Sarah Redfern High School, McGuinness played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1995.
McGuinness was graded to Western Suburbs in 1995 when he was 18 and played alongside his older brother, Ken
Ken McGuinness
Ken McGuinness is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played club football for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys...
, for two seasons.
In 2001, Kevin McGuinness, along with fellow Tiger, Craig Field
Craig Field
Craig Field is an Australian former professional rugby league player. Field played for South Sydney, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Balmain Tigers and Wests Tigers. His primary position was at halfback...
, were banned by the NRL for six months after testing positive to illegal substances. After undergoing counselling, McGuinness returned to premier league two months before the ban was lifted and was back with the first grade team for round 23 against the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
at Campbelltown Stadium
Campbelltown Stadium
Campbelltown Stadium, formerly Orana Park and Campbelltown Sports Ground, is a rugby league stadium in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia. It is the full time home ground for the Western Suburbs Magpies District Rugby League Football Club and is one of three home grounds for the Wests Tigers...
, where he scored a try.
McGuinness set the record for the most tries scored in a match by a Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
player on August 4, 2002, when he scored 4 tries against Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
.
In 2004, after a season at Manly, McGuinness moved to the Salford City Reds. While at Salford he became a firm fans' favourite, and earned the nickname "The Buddha." He left the Salford City Reds at the end of the 2007 season, and though quite a few players left at the end of that year, he in particular, received a standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
, with sections of the crowd chanting "Buddha, Buddha, Buddha," as a homage to the player.
After retiring from the highest level of a football, McGuiness won 2 premierships with Wollongong Wests in the Illawarra competition. In 2011, he joined the Queanbeyan Blues in Canberra's Group 8.
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: 1995 - Round 9, Western Suburbs vs Penrith PanthersPenrith PanthersThe Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
at Penrith StadiumPenrith StadiumPenrith Stadium is a rugby league and soccer stadium located on Mulgoa Road, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.The 22,500 seat venue is the home ground for the Penrith Panthers who play in the National Rugby League...
, 7 May