McCullough’s words link McGuire with Dragons

St George Illawarra hooker Andrew McCullough says former teammate Josh McGuire would be “a welcome addition” if the irritated Cowboy left North Queensland to join the Dragons.

The former Maroons and Kangaroos enforcer has made his discontent at North Queensland’s woeful start to the season, in which they’ve slumped to 0-4, very obvious.

The 31-year-old torched his team in an extraordinary interview after the Cowboys’ loss to the Titans in round three, unleashing the words “soft underbelly”, “no steel” and “embarrassing”.

McGuire then singled out a teammate in a post-match spray after the Cowboys’ loss to the Sharks in round four, lashing prop Francis Molo over a wayward offload that led to an error.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten told reporters after the match that the club would grant McGuire an early release from his contract, which expires at the end of 2022, if he found another club.

“We have had a conversation with his management and if he is able to secure an opportunity for next year we aren’t going to stand in his way,” Payten said.

McCullough and McGuire were Brisbane Broncos teammates for 10 years, between 2009 and 2018, and off-season Dragons recruit McCullough said he’d happily play alongside McGuire again.