North Queensland coach Todd Payten hopes a deal will be struck in the coming days to offload Josh McGuire to St George Illawarra.
The former Australia and Queensland prop was missing from Sunday’s 34-30 win over Wests Tigers after spending time in hospital with cellulitis this week.
However, it appears he has played his last game for the Cowboys anyway and is expected to be at the Dragons under former coach Anthony Griffin by the end of the week.
“Preferably,” Payten said on Sunday night following the first win of the season.
McGuire spent a day and a half in hospital with the infection, missing the main training session of the week prior to the Tigers game.
Skipper Jason Taumalolo is expected back next week to play Canterbury in Townsville after being ruled out ahead of Sunday’s win.
The depleted Cowboys were given almost no hope against the Tigers at a sold-out Leichhardt Oval but completely dismantled the home side to hold a 28-6 lead at halftime.
Payten is better placed than most to know how what an achievement that is in front of a vocal home crowd.
The ex-Tigers prop played eight seasons with the club between 2004-2011 and lost just three of 19 games at Leichhardt during that time.
“Playing here on a Sunday afternoon is what all these lads would live for, ” he said.
“The crowd got behind their team in the second half and we were probably a little bit lucky when the try was disallowed, but the team certainly got lifted by the crowd at stages.”
All the damage was done in the first half as five-eighth Scott Drinkwater set up three tries and scored another to devastate the defence.
“Scotty had a strong game, the past couple of years he’s always involved or in and around our points,” Payten said.
Payten said he was also encouraged by Valentine Holmes at fullback for the second week in a row.
“He carried the ball really strong, he was fast he had some good touches saved a couple of tries in one set and a couple of errors,” he said.
“There’s some improvement still for him but it’s part of the development.”
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
And RTS, its because he is so consistently excellent that he often gets overlooked
andrew
Roar Rookie
I was listening to Peter Tunks last week Snowy and he reckons Dufty's best position is five eighth. He's got good ball skills and his passing game, what I've seen of it, is pretty good. I'd definitely be keeping him. I hope Hook's legacy is not going to be one of leaving Saints in a mess with the signing of over 30s players.
Crow
Roar Pro
I think McGuire could be a really good signing. He has the skill set to make an impact. He was tired at the Cowboys and frustrated with being in a loosing team week in week out. Reunited with Hook is a win win scenario.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I also feel that with the speed of the game increasing, that players such as McGuire, Lodge, JWH etc. will be less effective in years to come.It may be more desirable to develop ball playing props like Artie & mobile back rowers as those components may in future be a preferable option to bulk & size. Thoughts That is the idea, bring back skill to the game, reduce the bulk to reduce injuries. There will always be a place for big front rowers, but getting back ball playing lock forwards will be a win.
Rob
Guest
Dufty will see far less football as will every other Dragons player if McGuire is on the field. He’ll see more opponents coming his way thou as they stroll straight past McGuire in the defensive line and into the back field if that’s any consolation. McGuire is so slow and out of Knick he can’t make the Cowboys top 13 with Taumalolo, Dunn and Gilbert out ahead of Hess?
Rob
Guest
McGuire has been in 26% of parties and 74% of meetings since pulling on a Cowboys jersey. The boys had a party in his absence on the weekend.
Rob
Guest
Since arriving at the Cowboys McGuire has won 26% of games. Josh has never crossed the stripe in a Cowboys jersey and hasn’t in over 57 games yet he has dominated possession of the football inside the attacking zone late in the count especially in recent times? McClean and Molo and the other forwards preformed well on the weekend in McGuire’s absence? They actually got the football in their hands. Molo has 5 tries and McClean 3 in under 50 games each? Josh McGuire is slow and error ridden and incapable of breaking a tackle but that doesn’t stop him grabbing the ball even putting in a chip kick more than once? Since the beginning of last year McGuire has also consistently taken it apon himself to berate team mates often raising his fist in the in goal to young players. Whisper are he also enjoys belittling young players sticking to personal performance diets and doing extras? Recently it has been reported he gave a stool sample instead of a urine sample as a joke to the performance team. Then we have some lumps in another Parr rug regarding a road rage replicar fire arm pointing incident. McGuire is an obnoxious moron who best football was 6 years ago. He’s the most unfit player in the Cowboys roster IMO. Good luck StGeorge. Personally I’m over the moon they have shown him the door.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Rats...
Phil
Roar Rookie
It's all about opinions mate. You have yours, I have mine but we do agree on Teddy and Paps.
Spartacus
Roar Rookie
Latrell's lack of involvement and going MIA is certainly a problem. If he wants to play FB and earn the big dollars then he needs to increase his involvement, yes. I still don't see either Dufty or Brimson in the same class as Gutherson, Turbo, RTS, CNK or Ponga. Valentine Holmes does not belong in the first two tiers either and struggles to justify being added along side Dufty and Brimson in the 3rd tier IMO. When Latrell is on the he is in tier 1 IMO. When he is "not as involved" then I still think Certainly Teddy and Papenhuyzen are in a class if their own.
R N
Roar Rookie
One of the most infuriating things about McGuire is his addiction to a 4th tackle one out hit up. My god it does my head in!
Phil
Roar Rookie
It looks like the deal is done and McGuire is on his way, sadly. He's not a team player so I hope he has something to offer Saints. Saw Griffin interviewed on NRL360 tonight and wasn't impressed with what he said. McGuire is on his way and someone in the forward pack has to make way for this, this.......player. He answered questions on Dufty and "reading between the lines" he doesn't rate him well.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Tedesco and Paps are the best two fullbacks going around and if I was putting a team together Paps would be my pick of the two. Of the next tier, Gutherson, Brimson, Holmes, Nicol-Klokstad, Roger T-S, Dufty, Turbo (when fit), Ponga and when Latrell is not having a bludge which he often does, he can be in that bunch as well. Mitchell was dumped from SOO because of laziness as explained by Freddy with video evidence to back it up. Sure, he is immensely talented, big, powerful runner, clever with the ball in hand, intimidating factor, but won't bust his gut like his teammates do when needed like in the game the other night when Brisbane were attacking the line and a wide shot showed Mitchell dawdling across in cover whereas the other Souths players were showing urgency. Yep, I rate Dufty right up there.
Spartacus
Roar Rookie
"Dufty is no Tedesco or Papenhuyzen but he’s right amongst the next tier down." What? You think Dufty is on Latrell's level Phil? Or Gutherson's level? Or are you including them with Teddy and Papenhuyzen?
Rellum
Roar Guru
From the whispers I heard (that I can't prove so take that with a grain of salt) he was a problem in the dressing room at the Broncs so I was ok with them letting him walk.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
It seems he is almost signed. I hope he’s still got some fuel in the tank, some power in the engine and a body that won’t give up without a fight. Optimism is the way of this old dragon.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
If the Dragons lose Dufty, many die-hard, true believers will NOT be happy. Not a Papenhuyzen or a Tedesco...yet. He has continued to develop and hone his skills. He is working with a very experienced coaching/training team and is playing with great confidence. Dufty is working strategically and creatively within an increasingly tight-knit team and is developing a certain kind of toughness and resilience. The faithful chant “In Hook we trust” but in truth I will trust him no more if he fails to get this talented bloke on the ‘hook’ and into the net. I have doubts about the angry, mouthy man being recruited from NTQ by the Red V. His chequered reputation precedes him. Grimace.
Tony
Roar Guru
Sounds like a great team player. Hopefully Sims has a little word to him if and when he turns up
Tony
Roar Guru
Are you really expecting Milward to know what a priority is?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Broncs have bigger holes to fill than fullback. Maybe you are right and there are no suiters for Dufty, that makes it easier for you to get him even if you do wait. I still think other clubs might see him as an upgrade and there is also the new Brissy team who will need a fullback