Cowboys bad boy Josh McGuire finally faces ban from NRL

The NRL has finally caught up with North Queensland bad boy Josh McGuire and the Cowboys forward’s latest grubby act threatens to rule him out for the rest of the NRL season.

Cowboys prop Josh McGuire. Picture: Getty Images

The NRL has finally caught up with North Queensland bad boy Josh McGuire and the Cowboys forward’s latest grubby act threatens to rule him out for the rest of the NRL season.

McGuire was on Friday hit with a grade two contrary conduct charge for raking the face of Brisbane forward David Fifita in Thursday night’s 18-14 win over the Cowboys in Townsville and faces a ban of three to four weeks.

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Josh McGuire has been hit with a grade two contrary conduct charge.

The 29-year-old had already been twice fined this year for similar incidents, and the NRL took into account the previous incidents before determining the charge.

About nine minutes into the match, McGuire placed his hand over the face of Fifita while completing a tackle.

The NRL charge sheet from the match described it as “contrary to the true spirit of the game”.

Then in round seven, McGuire was 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.

The NRL’s code of procedure showing why Josh McGuire was charged.

McGuire has already been hit with two grade one contrary conduct charges this year.

The first came in round five against Melbourne when Storm star Cameron Munster reeled from a tackle involving McGuire and claimed he was eye gouged, before refusing to make an official complaint after discussing it with captain Cameron Smith.

Josh McGuire has already been hit with two grade one contrary conduct charges this year. Picture: Getty Images

“The grading ascribed for this charge recognises an added feature, namely, that penalties previously imposed on player McGuire for this type of conduct (Contrary Conduct, Grade 1, 12/4/19 & Contrary Conduct, Grade 1, 8/6/19) have failed to deter him from engaging in it and, as such, the grading reflects the need for a significantly greater level of personal deterrence in his case,” the report from the charge sheet read.

Originally published as Cowboys bad boy Josh McGuire finally faces ban from NRL