A former Super League star who copped one of the biggest bans in competition history has been arrested and charged over alleged ‘serious offences against a child’.
Josh McGuire, 35, who played for Warrington Wolves during the 2023 Super League season has been charged with ‘serious offences against a child’ with Queensland Police confirming those charges.
Per The Sydney Morning Herald, McGuire was arrested and charged on Tuesday after investigations by the Gateway Child Protection and Investigation Unit.
The charges include one of common assault and relate to alleged incidents from last week.
A report from Channel 9 News stated that the offences related to the “alleged strangulation of a five-year-old child”. He is expected to appear in court in Brisbane on December 17th.
The 35-year-old hasn’t played professional rugby league since leaving Warrington Wolves midway through the 2023 season with his Super League spell tarnished by a huge 12-match ban for the use of ‘unacceptable language’.
Former Super League man Josh McGuire charged with serious offences
Further details of McGuire’s alleged offences are scarce with more expected to come in the approach to his court date later this month.
Prior to his short-lived spell in Super League, McGuire had been a stalwart of the NRL, playing over 250 games with 197 of those coming for Brisbane, for whom he debuted in 2009.
McGuire represented both Samoa and Australia internationally, winning the 2017 World Cup with the Kangaroos whilst also going on to play 14 times for Queensland, winning three of the five series he played in.
After his playing career ended, he briefly returned to the Broncos as part of the club’s coaching staff but left the team earlier this year.
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#NRL Former NRL player Josh McGuire is facing two charges, one of common assault, for the alleged strangulation of a 5-year-old child.
He is set to appear in court on December 17. pic.twitter.com/4Nxle7PZgI— NRL News (@NRLNEWS) December 4, 2025
