Hull KR's Danny McGuire ready to write another chapter after Hollywood ending at Leeds
Friday 26 January 2018 07:32, UK
Danny McGuire still has hopes of a top-eight finish with Hull KR after a 'Hollywood ending' to his Leeds Rhinos career.
The Leeds-born playmaker led the Rhinos into a new era following Kevin Sinfield's retirement at the end of the treble-winning season in 2015, culminating in an eighth Super League Grand Final winners' ring and a second Harry Sunderland Trophy in October.
That came just three months after the 35-year-old opted out of the easy route to retirement and committed to helping Hull KR re-establish themselves as a Super League club.
McGuire's gamble paid off as Rovers secured promotion at the first time of asking and he got his fairytale finish at Old Trafford.
"It was a scriptwriter's dream," said McGuire, who added a 16th major trophy to his glittering CV. "It couldn't have gone any better.
"I had an unbelievable time at Leeds from signing as a 12, 13-year-old to finishing in October. But I definitely felt in the middle of last season that I needed a fresh challenge and Leeds probably needed to look in another direction.
"I still feel like I've got a lot left in the legs and a lot to give.
"We've got a really good squad here, a good set of lads and we can definitely surprise a few people this year. If anybody underestimates us we'll show teams what we can do."
Live Betfred Super League
McGuire is not putting a limit on what the Robins can achieve this year, though.
"I've heard people say getting into the [top] eight would be a really big achievement but I want to set our goals a little bit higher," he said.
"We want to be competing every week and really push ourselves this year.
"We've got the quality in the squad to be able to have a really good successful year and I don't see why we can't achieve some good things."
Super League's all-time leading try-scorer is at the start of a two-year deal that will expire close to his 37th birthday.
But McGuire has not ruled out extending his career beyond 2019.
"I feel really good and am really, really glad I made the decision to keep playing," he said.
"I've really enjoyed my time here so far and am just taking each week as it comes in the next year or two and see where I go.
"The club's got big plans. After winning promotion from the Championship last year it wants to keep improving every year.
"I know behind the scenes they've got a three-year plan where they want to be up there competing with the better teams in Super League. There's no reason why the club can't do that.
"I just want to be part of that and hopefully with a bit of experience can steer the ship around a little bit."
