It is undoubted that Danny McGuire is a Leeds Rhinos legend but in 2024 he will be taking his services to a local rival in the shape of Castleford Tigers.
McGuire came through the Rhinos academy having impressed at local amateur club East Leeds. In 2001, he made his Super League debut and in 2002 scored his first Super League try. It was the first of many with McGuire still the competition’s all time leading try scorer.
He would help the Rhinos win eight Super League Grand Finals scoring eight tries in nine Grand Final wins and picking up the Harry Sunderland Award twice.
Ironically, the second of those awards would be given to him on his final appearance for Leeds when two tries and two drop goals earned him every vote for the Harry Sunderland Award that day against Castleford.
This wasn’t the first time he tormented his new team on the pitch. In fact, McGuire is Leeds’ most prolific player against the Tigers scoring over 20 tries against them. He only scored more tries against London Broncos throughout his career. McGuire scored against them in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final as well.
After that display at Old Trafford in 2017, he joined Hull KR for two years prior to becoming part of the coaching staff and even spending time as caretaker coach in 2022.
At the end of 2023 he left the club and was reportedly offered the Head Coach role at Cas but elected to join as assistant.
The first image of him in Cas gear emerged this week and Leeds fans are simply devastated. Some claimed he wasn’t happy to be there saying: “To be fair to Magsy, I would be thinking exactly the same if I had to drive over the bridge at Lock Lane every time I had to go to work,” or asking, “Why is he grimacing?”
Another claimed he was “forced to smile.” He said: “Looks like a forced smile to me, I hope for Danny’s sake, a position becomes available at Leeds soon.”
But the majority made comments like this: “I feel ill.” Another claimed “I am dead inside.” Whilst one fan simply said, “Just looks wrong.”
The feel of sickness persisted with another fan saying, “Just been sick in my mouth,” whilst another added, “I don’t feel very good.” One fan even claimed their day had been ruined: “My day has been ruined.”