Josh McGuire is one of Super League’s most exciting signings ahead of the 2023 season so it is a shame he could now face a massive ban after his red card against Leigh Leopards.
However, it shouldn’t be forgotten how special the Warrington Wolves forward is. A former World Cup winner, what makes him all the more impressive is the fact he can only see out of one eye.
Speaking at the Super League launch, McGuire said: “I lost my vision in left eye in 2011 so it’s probably a good thing I’m not a winger and catching high balls.
“I’m probably better to be in the middle. It is what it is, it was a setback, it was an injury.
My kids take advantage of it all the time taking things out of cupboards.
“It is what it is, it’s another injury. I love playing rugby league that’s what I want to do and I’m just glad Warrington gave me a deal despite only have one eye,” he joked.
Since joining the Wolves, he has trained with the PDRL team, a side he would be eligible for due to his eye.
McGuire has previously explained the story behind the injury.
“Yeah it was a long time ago, it was 2011 I lost my left eye,” McGuire explained. “He (Mitchell Dodds) took my eye out late in the game, early in the season. I didn’t think it was too bad, at the start I got taken off the field and then I went home. I was actually out for a beer and then I felt this gel-like stuff coming down my face and I thought ‘well that’s not good’.
“They rushed me to the hospital where I was told my eye had collapsed. The poke detached my retina but the actual eyeball collapsed during some dancing on the drink.”
The subject had been brought up when the former Brisbane Bronco had been discussing his fear of the Wolves’ being relegated and CEO Fitzpatrick had recalled McGuire’s worries during a crucial relegation battle against Toulouse.
“I remember the Toulouse game and he text me and it was quite funny actually. Do you remember Matt Dufty got poked in the eye and he kept going like that (holding his eye) and was struggling, going to the physio.
“You (addressing McGuire) text me and said ‘tell f***ing Dufty that he can play with one eye, I’ve played one eye for f***ing 10 years.”
