Broncos prop Josh McGuire out to push his Test credentials against Dragons enforcer Russell Packer
JOSH McGuire’s credentials as an Australian Test front-rower will be tested when he braces for front-row fireworks against a Dragons enforcer.
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BRONCOS prop Josh McGuire can move a step closer to his first Test jumper by dominating Dragons enforcer Russell Packer at Suncorp Stadium.
McGuire’s credentials as an Australian front-rower will be tested when he and teammate Adam Blair brace for front-row fireworks against Packer.
Packer is still finding his feet after a 12-month stint in jail, but is so talented the 118kg hardman made his Test debut for New Zealand as a 21-year-old five years ago.
McGuire has been Brisbane’s best forward after five rounds, averaging 156m a game, and admitted he would have his work cut out trying to match Packer.
“He’s a Test-proven front-rower,” McGuire, 26, said.
“Russell has been around the traps a while now. He is tough, runs hard, defends well and has given them that steel in the middle they are missing.
“He’s a big body who gets in there and has a go. Every front-rower in the NRL has a different hard edge to them.
“There are guys who hit and there are guys who are fit, and Packer is just a rugged, in-your-face kind of footballer who is relentless with his hit-ups.
“He is a great ruck forward, but in saying that, Leeson Ah Mau (Packer’s front-row partner) has been playing good footy too, so it will be won and lost in the middle.”
The last time McGuire squared off against Packer was in 2013 when the former Warriors prop was fined $15,000 by the NRL for urinating mid-match on Suncorp Stadium.
Within 12 months Packer was slapped with a jail sentence over an off-field assault but McGuire praised his rival’s willingness to turn his life around.
“It would have been very hard for him but he has put his best foot forward and has put everything behind him,’’ he said.
“He has done his time and obviously did what he needed to do.
‘‘It would have been a hard time on his family, so it’s good the way he has gone about his business.”
McGuire has made a stunning comeback from his ruptured achilles.
The setback made the Maroons prop even more determined to succeed this season.
Originally published as Broncos prop Josh McGuire out to push his Test credentials against Dragons enforcer Russell Packer
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