JOSH McGuire spent the summer diving with sharks and the Maroons prop is hellbent on putting the bite on NSW’s pack next season.
McGuire’s off-season trip to South Australia, where he experienced the adrenalin rush of cage-diving with great white sharks, gave him the chance to reflect on a bitter-sweet 2015 campaign.
On one hand, McGuire celebrated his finest feat in football by clinching his maiden Origin jumper.
On the other, he was left devastated by a ruptured achilles which saw him miss Queensland’s historic 52-6 rout in the Origin decider and Brisbane’s eventual surge to the NRL grand final.
Super coach Mal Meninga continued his evolution of the Maroons when he handed McGuire his maiden Queensland jumper for the 2015 series opener against the Blues.
In just his second Origin game, McGuire experienced the thrill of playing before an interstate record 91,513 fans at the MCG.
But just a fortnight before Origin III, McGuire snapped his achilles playing for the Broncos, ruling him out of what proved to be a magical night for Queensland rugby league.
McGuire watched from the sidelines as the Maroons tore NSW apart 52-6 in an eight-try massacre, fuelling the front-row firebrand’s desire to continue Queensland’s dominance in 2016.
“To miss Origin three was a real kick in the guts,” he said.
“To be honest, it was the best year and worst year for me all rolled into one.
“I finally made Origin and achieved a childhood dream, but then it was taken away so quickly.
“On the upside I finally got to put that Maroon jumper on after waiting so long and not everyone can say they have achieved playing Origin football.
“I loved being part of the first two games, I learned a lot just being in camp with guys like Cam Smith and Johnathan Thurston and I’m excited about the opportunity to come back next year.”
All action on the field, McGuire is equally energetic off it. The off-season gave the 25-year-old the opportunity to indulge in a childhood fantasy – coming face to face with a great white shark.
While many would be terrified at the prospect of meeting the ferocious predator following champion surfer Mick Fanning’s ordeal, McGuire couldn’t wait to get up close and personal.
“It was a tremendous experience and I would recommend it to anyone,” McGuire said.
“I did it as part of a tour to Port Lincoln. We started the day at 6am, it was a three-hour boat trip to the diving spot and we spent the day out on the water.
“I had to get into a wetsuit and the water was bloody cold, it took the breath out of me when I first jumped in. I had to calm down a bit and get my focus before we went underwater.
“There were four and five-metre great whites swimming around the cage so it was a humbling experience.
“I saw six different sharks on the day. They were coming right up the cage and slapping it. Then they would go underneath the cage and come back and have a look at you.
“It was a massive adrenalin rush. Coming face to face with the baddest creature in the world is pretty crazy.
“I’ve always wanted to do it. I grew up watching documentaries on sharks and I’ve always loved them as an animal so my wife got it for me as a gift.
“It was good to be there and I’ve ticked it off on the bucket list.”
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