MAROONS hopeful Josh McGuire believes the return of Wayne Bennett to the Broncos can be the X-factor that catapults him into a maiden Queensland Origin jumper in 2015.
McGuire went within striking distance of a Maroons debut in 2014 when the rising Brisbane bookend was added to Queensland’s extended squad for the final game of the series.
It was an opportune selection decision by Maroons hierarchy, coming at a time when New Zealand, the birthplace of McGuire’s mother, made subtle inquiries about the prop’s interest in representing the Kiwis.
But the 10-day Queensland camp erased any doubt over McGuire’s true allegiance _ and now Bennett’s arrival at Red Hill can have a positive spin-off for the Maroons.
As the overseer of the Maroons’ famed Emerging Origin program, Bennett has turned more than 50 players into Queensland representatives since the concept was born in 2001.
McGuire was overlooked for last year’s 2014 intake, but is confident he can go to another level next season working with Bennett on a weekly basis at the Broncos.
“I’ve dreamed of wearing the Queensland jumper for years but I think it’s a realistic goal next season,” said McGuire, who recently had a taste of international football by turning out for Samoa, the birthplace of his grandfather, at the Four Nations tournament.
“It meant a lot to play for Samoa because of my family’s heritage, but in my heart I was born in Queensland and I’m a Queenslander.
“Being part of the Origin camp was an amazing experience and it gave me a real insight into the things I need to do if I want to take the next step and play State of Origin.
“I think Wayne (Bennett) can certainly help me with that. He’s coached the greatest players in the game, I met with him recently to discuss my goals for the new season and you can just feel the expectation building at the Broncos.
“Based on our chat, I’d like to think I will be in the starting side (at the Broncos), but the thing with Wayne is you have to work hard and nothing is guaranteed.
“My goal is to break into the Origin side, but I won’t do that if I’m not producing for the Broncos week in, week out at club level.”
Remarkably, the 24-year-old rocketed into the Origin frame last season despite learning he was playing with a cataract in his left eye.
The Broncos enforcer has battled vision problems for the past three years, suffering a detached retina in 2011 after being poked in the eye during an NRL game by a Brisbane teammate.
A five-hour operation helped save his eyesight, but in recent months his vision has deteroriated, to the point where McGuire has developed a cataract, a clouding of the lens inside the eye that often leads to blindness.
McGuire ultimately needs surgery, but is hoping it won’t affect his long-term aspirations to clinch a Maroon jumper.
“It’s a tough one … if I have an operation, it weakens the eye, so I’ll leave the cataract in there for as long as I can,” he said.
“There’s a lot of floating blood in my eye so when I look through it, there’s a big black spot over my eye.
“I’ll get a few operations when I retire to fix it up a bit more. I could get it now but if I copped another big hit, I’d need more surgery.
“I’ve already had two operations on my left eye, so I’m trying to delay it as long as I can.”
McGuire said he now felt ready to make the leap to representative football after battling injury in recent seasons.
“I was injury free last season, which enabled me to produce my best form, and I felt more confident within the Broncos team,” he said.
“I am older now and know where I stand and what I’m capable of. It was good to play consistent club footy, but I want to back it up now and become a rep player.
“I’m pretty excited about the future. I’m looking forward to playing under Wayne so hopefully he can make me a better player.”
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