Younger McGuire ready to step up

McGuire is a name synonymous with rugby league and toughness. 

Australian and Queensland Maroons lock Josh McGuire has been a force to be reckoned with on the field for more than a decade. 

Now at North Queenland Cowboys after leaving the Brisbane Broncos, McGuire is entering his 11th season in the NRL and is just six games off reaching 200. 

But the father-of-two, who has appeared for Queensland 11 times, Australia eight times and Samoa seven, is not the only McGuire running amok on the football field.

Younger brothers Joe McGuire, Michael McGuire and Zak McGuire will take to the field for Norths Devils this year; and Joe - one of six McGuire boys raised by a military dad - reckons Josh is not the only star in the family.

When quizzed on who was the best player, Joe said despite Josh representing on the international level, Zak was one to watch. 

"Josh is playing for Australia, so I'd have to say him, but I have to give Zak a wrap... he's probably the most competitive of us all," Joe said.

"But we're all good in our own right.... (our other brother) Jacob had problems with his hips so he never really could play, but he's got the most aggression and ticker out of all of us. 

"We've all got different things that the other doesn't have... everyone is good in their own right, but I'd have to say the best is probably Josh or Zak."

Joe himself co-captained the Devils' Hastings Deering Colts side to grand final victory over the Townsville Blackhawks last year.

"That was my fourth year playing in that comp, so it was good to finally get a grand final win after four years," Joe, who plays front row and lock, said. 

The 20-year-old said ultimately he would love to follow in Josh's footsteps and play NRL, but for now he was happy ripping in at Norths. 

"Obviously NRL is the dream," the Aspley junior, who has been at Norths since he was 13, said. 

"But realistically I'd love to play Intrust Super Cup... that's my main goal this year.

"I give everything a crack; I'm not the quickest or strongest bloke, but I just keep plodding through and get the job done.... I try to be a reliable fella on the field.

"I'm taking this year as it goes... wherever I can play, however good I am, I'll just take it as it comes. I just enjoy playing and hanging around with all of the boys."

Twins Michael and Zak have been training in the Colts squad during pre-season. 

Joe, an apprentice carpenter from Albany Creek, said rugby league had always played a huge part in their lives and he loved playing now as a result.  

"Pretty much we played backyard footy every day - every chance we got," Joe said.  

"I was real little when Josh was still living at home, so (later) when he came round home we got the big games going - all six of us.

"But any chance we get we we're always playing backyard footy - some sort of sport, real competitive... (there has been) a lot of injuries here and there."

Joe said he was looking forward to the 2019 season starting; Norths' Intrust Super Cup side will take on Burleigh Bears at home in round one on March 9.