Danny McGuire
Daniel "Danny" Phillip McGuire (born 6 December 1982) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a scrum-half or stand-off in the Betfred Super League, and Great Britain and England at international level.
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Full name | Daniel Phillip McGuire[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England | 6 December 1982|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 13 st 12 lb (88 kg)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Scrum-half, Stand-off | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He played for the Leeds Rhinos and Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
Introduction
McGuire is a former Great Britain and England International stand-off or scrum-half. He spent the majority of his professional career playing for Leeds Rhinos, winning a total of eight Super League Championships, two Challenge Cups,[3][4][5][6] three World Club Challenge Championships and three League Leaders' Shield's.
He has also won the Harry Sunderland Trophy for the 'Man-of-the-Match' Award in two Grand Finals, 2015 and 2017, one of only three men to do so, alongside his former team-mates Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow. McGuire was also the first player to score 200 tries in the Super League and he became the highest try-scorer in the competition's history in 2012, surpassing his former team-mate, Keith Senior.
Background
McGuire was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.[7]
Playing career
Early career
McGuire signed for the Leeds Rhinos from local team East Leeds A.R.L.F.C..
Playing positions
He primarily plays in the halves as a scrum-half or stand-off.
2001
McGuire impressed for the Academy side and made his début for the Leeds Rhinos' first-grade team at Headingley Stadium, against the Salford City Reds on 6 July 2001.
2003
By the start of the 2003's Super League VIII, McGuire had established himself as a first-team regular.
2004
He ended 2004's Super League IX having scored 39 tries in all competitions, including a Super League record of five in one match against the Widnes Vikings. He finished with one fewer than the Super League's top try scorer, Bradford Bulls' Lesley Vainikolo.
McGuire's superb form resulted in him being awarded the Rugby League Writers Association - 'Player of the Year.' To also add him being named in the 2004 Tetley's Super League Dream Team.[8]
The Leeds Rhinos won the 2004 League Leaders' Shield, with Danny playing a pivotal role in their accomplishment.
McGuire played at halfback in the Leeds Rhinos' 2004 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls, with Danny scoring a try, a game which ended the Leeds Rhinos' 32-year wait for the Championship.
2005
As Super League IX Champions, the Leeds Rhinos faced 2004 NRL season Premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 2005 World Club Challenge. McGuire played at stand-off and scored a try in the Leeds Rhinos' 39-32 victory.
He played for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final from the interchange bench, in their loss against Hull F.C..[9]
McGuire suffered a defeat in the 2005 Super League Grand Final, which was a rematch of the 2004 Final against the Bradford Bulls. McGuire played at stand-off and scored the Leeds Rhinos' only try, in a 15-6 defeat.
![](../I/Danny_McGuire.jpg.webp)
2007
McGuire played in the 2007 Super League Grand Final this time defeating St. Helens, by a score of 33-6.
2008
This also happened again in the 2008 Super League Grand Final again, defeating St. Helens, in a closer affair than the year before.[10]
The Leeds Rhinos' subsequently winning the match, 24-16., with McGuire scoring two tries in the second half to ensure victory.
He was part of the Leeds Rhinos' 2008 World Club Challenge winning squad, defeating the 2007 NRL Season Premiers, the Melbourne Storm, recording a final score of 11-4.
2009
McGuire won his second League Leaders' Shield in 2009 with the Leeds Rhinos.
McGuire's fourth grand final came in the 2009 Super League Grand Final, when the Leeds Rhinos defeated St. Helens for a third-year in a row, by a score of 18-10 at Old Trafford.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]
2010
After winning three titles in a row the Leeds Rhinos struggled in 2010. McGuire excelled though, scoring 27 tries in 32 games, his equal best since his excellent 2004 season.
He played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[23][24]
McGuire's season ended in controversy though, during the Leeds Rhinos' win in their first play-off match against the eventual champions the Wigan Warriors.
With just moments remaining in the match, the Leeds Rhinos led 27-26, when the Wigan Warriors broke down the left of the field, McGuire was adjudged to have pulled back the Wigan Warriors' George Carmont, preventing him from scoring a potential match-winning try.
But in doing so, McGuire suffered a serious knee injury which ruled him out for up to six-months. Meaning he'd miss the remainder of the season and the start of the next.
Former Wigan Warriors star Phil Clarke, caused further controversy by writing, "Perhaps the rugby Gods have punished him (McGuire), for his unsportsmanlike play." The comments were posted on his blog on the Sky Sports website.
![](../I/Danny_McGuire_1.jpg.webp)
2011
McGuire played at stand-off for the Leeds Rhinos in the 2011 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Wembley Stadium.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]
His fifth and latest Grand Final win again, against St Helens, came in 2011, with the Leeds Rhinos coming from 5th in the regular season table to win 32-16, in the 2011 Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.[40][41]
2012
McGuire was part of the Leeds Rhinos side that won the 2012 World Club Challenge 26-12, against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
McGuire also tasted victory in the 2012 Super League Grand Final against the Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford.[42][43]
2014
He played in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Castleford Tigers at Wembley Stadium.[44]
2015
The Leeds Rhinos won the 2015 Challenge Cup Final with victory over Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley Stadium[45][46][47] and the 2015 League Leaders' Shield.
The Leeds Rhinos also claimed the spoils in the 2015 Super League Grand Final, in a thrilling encounter against the Wigan Warriors, eventually winning the game 20-22, which wrapped-up the domestic treble for the club at Old Trafford.[48]
2017
McGuire's final game for the Leeds Rhinos came in the 2017 Super League Grand Final where the Leeds Rhinos defeated the Castleford Tigers 6-24 at Old Trafford, with McGuire scoring two tries and kicking a drop-goal, on his farewell appearance for the Leeds Rhinos.[49][50][51]
2018
McGuire signed a two-year deal to play for Hull Kingston Rovers in the 2018 and 2019 Super League seasons.[52]
Danny made his début for Hull Kingston Rovers on 2 February 2018, in a 6-28 defeat by Wakefield Trinity.
He scored his first try for Hull Kingston Rovers against the Huddersfield Giants, in round 5 of the 2018's Super League XXIII.
Danny recorded his first hat-trick of tries for Hull Kingston Rovers in a 52-22 Super League victory over the Salford Red Devils, on 8 July 2018 at Craven Park.
2019
In pre-season ahead of the start of the 2019's Super League XXIV, Danny announced that the 2019 campaign would be his last as a player as he revealed his intentions to retire at the end of that same year.
It was revealed on 20 May 2019, that following McGuire's retirement as a player, subsequently commencing in 2020's Super League XXV that Danny would be taking on the role of Head of Recruitment at Hull Kingston Rovers.
2004
On the back of his superb season in 2004, McGuire was named in the Great Britain squad for the Tri-Nations tournament. He made his début off the bench in Great Britain's first game defeat by Australia.
He then made his first start for Great Britain in their next match against New Zealand, playing a key role and creating the try which ensured a 22-12 victory.
2008
In 2008, McGuire was named along with seven Leeds Rhinos' teammates, in England's and former Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Tony Smith's 24-man squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[53]
He played from the interchange bench as England came from behind to scrape past Papua New Guinea. The final score was 32-22, in the opening game of the tournament.
England then lost 52-4, to host nation and tournament favourites, Australia.
McGuire was left out of the squad for England's final group game, where they surrendered a 24-12 half-time lead to lose 36-24 to New Zealand.
McGuire started his first game of the tournament against New Zealand in the semi-final. It also proved to be his last as despite scoring two tries, McGuire could not prevent England losing 32-22 and being eliminated.
Honours
Club (Leeds Rhinos 2001-17)
- Super League (8): 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
- World Club Challenge (3): 2005, 2008, 2012
- League Leaders' Shield (3): 2004, 2009, 2015
- Challenge Cup (2): 2014, 2015
References
- "Daniel Phillip McGuire". Companies House. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- "Danny McGuire Hull KR". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-top-10-no-4-danny-mcguire-2526999
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/3677806.stm
- "Hull stun Leeds in Challenge Cup". BBC News. 27 August 2005. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- "2008 Grand Final". BBC. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
- "Rhinos Take Super League Title". Sky News. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Burke, David (11 October 2009). "Smith's Crisp". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- AFP (11 October 2009). "Leeds makes it Super League hat-trick". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- AAP (11 October 2009). "Leeds claim third successive Grand Final". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Linfoot, Ben (10 October 2009). "Grand Final: Leeds Rhinos 18 St Helens 10". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Correspondent (12 October 2009). "Potter refuses to blame video ref". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Fletcher, Paul (10 October 2009). "St Helens 10-18 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "Third time unlucky as Saints fail to halt Rhinos' charge to title". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "Sinfield hails winning culture". The Daily Mirror. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Stewart, Rob (12 October 2009). "Lee Smith targets place in England rugby union team after Grand Final victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "Sinfield hails historic title win". BBC Sport. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "Leeds Rhinos fans in homecoming welcome". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- Wilson, Andy (28 August 2010). "Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- skysports.com (27 August 2011). "Maguire salutes Wembley heroes". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- ESPN staff (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup glory for Wigan Warriors". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- wiganwarriors.com (28 August 2011). "Wigan are 2011 Cup Champions". rleague.com. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
- therfl.co.uk (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup: Lima inspires Wigan win". rleague.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- Brown, Oliver (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Chisnall, Craig (28 August 2011). "Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win". Wide World of Sports. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Henson, Mike (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Brown, Oliver (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final 2011: Wigan's warrior spirit shades controversy in emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- Press Association (27 August 2011). "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". Free Press. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- bbc.co.uk (30 August 2011). "Wigan's Sam Tomkins punished for gesture at Leeds fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
- "Leeds claim Grand Final glory as inspired Rob Burrow sinks St Helens". Guardian. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "St Helens 16 Leeds 32". Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- "Leeds emphatically shut out Hull KR to lift Challenge Cup". Guardian. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (2982). 31 August 2015. p. 31.
- "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 0-50 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- "Leeds pip Wigan to seal treble after brilliant, breathless Grand Final". Guardian. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- "Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- "Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- "Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford". Guardian. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- "Danny McGuire – Why I'm joining Hull KR from Leeds Rhinos". Hull Daily Mail. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.