Mcguire passionate in honouring our military heroes

THERE is a glimmer of pride in the eye of Cowboys enforcer Josh Mcguire when he looks down at the Cowboys’ defence jersey.

But even the brash front rower admits it won’t be staying in his cupboard for long.

Mcguire has promised his No. 8 jersey will go home to his father, Adam.

Adam Mcguire served 29 years in the Australian Army as an infantryman fighting on the front lines in Timor and Iraq.

The elder Mcguire was medically discharged from service after suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and his son has always shown pride in what his dad accomplished both at home and overseas.

It has spurred Mcguire to join forces with numerous charities over the years including Mates4mates and Ronald McDonald House in an effort to give back to the community the same as his father.

It is also a big reason Mcguire pulls on the Cowboys’ defence jersey with pride every season. Townsville is the largest garrison city in Australia, home to

AS the Cowboys prepare for a muststwin clash with the Rabbitohs at Queensland Country Bank Stadidium, Townsville Bulletin sports editor or Matthew Elkerton asks the burning ng questions.

IT has been five years since ce Jason Demetriou helped the Cowwboys hoist the premiership trophy hy as part of Paul Green’s coaching ng staff. thousands of service personnel and Mcguire believes the commemorative jersey is a chance to show them appreciation.

“It is a very defence orientated city, we have a massive defence family here. This is an opportunity to wear something and show a bit of respect for those people,” Mcguire said.

“It is a bit of a flash jersey, hopefully it gives us something a bit extra, (but) I don’t think we need any extra motivation to play better footy. It is something very special and exciting and it is good the club is still doing things. It has been a tough year and it is good to give (our armed forces) feedback to let them know we appreciate what they are doing for us.”

As for whether he gets an extra pep in his step come game day, the forward admitted it was hard to notice with the passion he already brings each and every week.

But there is one man who will likely be at the forefront of his mind when he runs out on to Queensland Country Bank Stadium for tonight’s clash.

“I am very proud about what my dad did in the army. We moved around a lot, (but we) never moved up here (to Townsville) because

Dad said it was too hot,” he said. “The armed forces is something special to me and my family, and (I have a) big background there and it is no secret that I am very proud of what my dad has done and achieved in the army.

“I will end up giving him my jersey, he always asks for my Anzac jersey each year so there is no doubt he will snaffle this one.”

The pride that Mcguire brings to the field each and every week has been epitomised by the way the front rower responded to the Cowboys’ lacklustre effort in their 30-10 loss to the Titans last weekend.

Mcguire has implored his teammates to wear the brunt of the criticism after the loss and admitted there was no one else they could blame.

“We as a team played poorly. That is the result we deserved from the effort we put out there,” Mcguire said.

“There is nobody else to blame but ourselves, we can’t blame the coaching staff. There is a whole group of 30 players in there working hard every week. We have to be better.

“It is the reality of where we are at right now. We are performing like a bottom four team.”

Now he could be the man to put the final nail in their dreams dr of chasing an elusive second title this season.

With Wayne Bennett still sidelined from the Rabbitohs’ oh COVID bubble, Demetriou (left) has taken the reins of the cardinal and myrtle on the field.

It was business as usual last week for the highly touted as assistant as the Rabbitohs comfortably dispatched of a h hapless Broncos.

While he might have been in the early conversation to re replace Paul Green in North Queensland, it is widely a accepted, including within the Cowboys ranks, that Demetriou is locked in to replace Bennett at the helm of the Rabbitohs in 2020. But can he cause one final bit of p pain for his former club?