Warrington's Josh McGuire will fight the charge which could land him a six-game ban insisting: “I didn’t say anything racial or homophobic.”
The Australia loose forward and Leigh’s Tom Amone have both been hit with a Grade F charge - the highest available tariff - for ‘unacceptable behaviour or language’ in the clubs’ pre-season friendly. New recruit McGuire, 32, was sent off in the incident on his Wolves debut while his opponent was placed on report. But the match review panel has since charged the pair for “verbal abuse based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual preference, disability, ethnic origin or any other form of unacceptable behaviour or language."
If found guilty at Tuesday’s independent tribunal, they could both miss a big chunk of the upcoming Betfred Super League season given they face a minimum suspension of six matches. World Cup winner McGuire joined Warrington from St George Illawarra for 2023 but was dismissed for the first time in his career as things turned ugly in his side’s 22-10 win. Wolves host Leeds in their Super League opener on Thursday while ex-South Sydney prop Amone, who helped Leigh earn promotion, hopes to be able to face Salford the following night.
But McGuire insisted: “I’m really disappointed. We don’t know what’s been said. I do know there was nothing racial, or homophobic or anything like that. Apparently there was some verbal between our players and their players and because there were so many people there we don’t know why I was the one that got the red card.
“I was hoping there’d be no case to answer and it could just be put to bed. Now there is a charge, there’ll be a deep review and both sides are putting in their statements. I will be fighting it, though, as I never said anything like that. There was nothing racial, homophobic or anything of that sort. There was a heated discussion between two teams and lots of players. There were 26 players on the field. We just need to be playing and concentrating on the good things in the game.”
Warrington have already hit problems with prop Gil Dudson suffering a hand injury in the same fixture. The ex-Wales international, who joined from Catalans, does not need surgery but will be out of action for four weeks. Leeds scrum-half Aidan Sezer has avoided a ban for his sin-binning against Hull KR as has Rovers full-back Lachlan Coote although he has been fined £250 for striking.
