Grubby Josh McGuire told to clean up his act after latest eye gouge incident

North Queensland star Josh McGuire again finds himself in the headlines for poor on field behaviour, with a number of NRL greats blasting the attitude of the enforcer.

Josh McGuire is in trouble for another poor on field incident.

• FINALLY! Cowboys bad boy faces season-ending ban

• LATE MAIL: Storm’s big blow, Eels major boost

Cowboys hardman Josh McGuire is under pressure to clean up his game with the Queensland Origin star facing a possible season-ending ban for his latest grubby antics.

Fed-up with McGuire’s ill-discipline, the NRL on Friday hit the Cowboys forward with his third charge of the season, this time for raking the face of former Broncos teammate David Fifita in Thursday night’s Queensland derby.

McGuire copped a grade-two contrary conduct charge with the NRL charge-sheet from the Cowboys’ 18-14 loss describing the act as “contrary to the true spirit of the game”.

Live stream all the action of every round leading into the finals on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >

Josh McGuire is in trouble for another poor on field incident.

MORE NRL NEWS

PLAYER RATINGS: ‘DARIUS BOYD’S TIME IS UP’

COWBOYS’ WAR CHEST TO BRING BACK HOLMES

A host of former first-grade stars unloaded on McGuire, with Darren Lockyer, Andrew Johns, Billy Slater, Michael Ennis and Greg Alexander condemning the Maroons lock for placing his hand on Fifita’s face.

An early guilty plea would see McGuire miss three matches, clearing him for the Cowboys’ final regular-season game against Melbourne.

Should McGuire fight the charge and lose at the NRL judiciary, he would cop a four-match ban ending his season.

McGuire has been blasted by NRL greats for his behaviour. Picture: Michael Chambers

While McGuire did not appear to eye-gouge Fifita, the NRL took into account his previous form with the 29-year-old involved in two acts of foul play this season.

The first incident came in Round 5 against Melbourne when McGuire appeared to eye-gouge his Maroons teammate Cameron Munster, who gestured to referees before refusing to lodge an official complaint.

McGuire was fined over the incident. Just eight weeks later, he was in hot water again, slugged with a maximum $4500 fine for his facial on Manly centre Dylan Walker, which was later reduced to $3400 with an early guilty plea.

LISTEN! Brett Finch and Paul Kent are back in the studio with Matty Johns to dig out some fun memories for 70’s Retro Round, offer suggestions to help the southern Queensland teams get back on track, analyse Kalyn Ponga’s mega-deal and Kenty details his Tuesday feud with Ivan Cleary.

Aside from the Fifita incident in the ninth minute, McGuire waged a running battle with the Broncos all night, clashing with Tevita Pangai Jr before a war of words with Brisbane prop Matt Lodge.

Cowboys coach Paul Green later said he did not see the McGuire-Fifita incident and has consistently defended the behaviour of his marquee off-season recruit.

But after this latest charge, the NRL has sent a clear message to McGuire that they are sick of his antics and he will be forced to change his ways next season or risk being rubbed out of the game for extended periods.

Given his $800,000 contract at the Cowboys, North Queensland hierarchy won’t tolerate McGuire being a regular spectator on the sidelines.

Commentating on Fox Sports, Roosters playmaker Cooper Cronk said: “It’s not a typical eye gouge, but with his history ... just stay away.”