Warrington forward Josh McGuire under investigation again

Warrington forward Josh McGuire is facing an investigation for the use of unacceptable language in the Super League defeat at Leigh.

McGuire, 33, was only making his seventh appearance for the Wolves after serving a long-ban at the start of his spell with the club.

He was banned for seven matches after being sent off in a pre-season game against Leigh, picking up a Grade F charge for using ‘unacceptable language’.

There was much controversy over that incident on the eve of the season, which saw McGuire and Leopards forward Tom Amone face a tribunal for unacceptable language.

Amone was cleared, but McGuire was banned, with no facility to appeal despite Warrington strongly defending him at the tribunal.

That meant he sat on the sidelines until making his debut in the win away at Catalans at the start of April.

He has started the last three games in the second-row, deputising for the injured Matty Nicholson, but now faces an anxious wait to see if any action will be taken.

The RFL confirmed in its disciplinary notes that the incident has been referred for further investigation.

Referee Chris Kendall was seen to put an incident on report during the game at Leigh Sports Village following a complaint, apparently by Leopards winger Josh Charnley.

If he is found guilty of any offence, it could create another headache for Warrington coach Daryl Powell.

As well as McGuire’s lengthy ban at the start of the season, Powell has also had to do without prop Gil Dudson for five matches due to a ban and that was after the Wales international had missed the start of the campaign through injury.

Nicholson is currently sidelined with a thumb injury, and Warrington lost forward Thomas Mikaele too, when he departed the club to return to Australia.

McGuire was one of several new signings made by Powell following a disappointing 2022 campaign.

The former Australia international made more than 250 appearances in the NRL for Brisbane, North Queensland and St George-Illawarra.

Only one suspension was handed down by the RFL’s match review panel following the latest round of Super League fixtures.

Leeds forward James McDonnell has been banned for two matches for a Grade D punching offence in their dramatic defeat to St Helens.

Four other players were charged, with St Helens’ Sione Mata’utia, Sauaso Sue of Hull KR and Salford’s King Vuniyayawa were all fined £250 and Nene Macdonald was rapped for Grade A other contrary behaviour for off the ball contact.

Daryl Powell happy with where Warrington are at but wants Magic response