Ken McGuinness was heralded as one of the game's brightest young stars when he burst on the scene with Western Suburbs in the early 1990s. A strong, fast outside back with a good step, McGuinness terrorised opposition defences despite playing behind a traditionally struggling side.
In 1998, McGuinness played State of Origin for New South Wales, under the guidance of Tom Raudonikis, his club coach. McGuinness never got to take the field in the first game. That incident apparently affected their relationship as player and coach and McGuinness seemingly went down hill from there.
Last season, he played just 6 games for the Wests Tigers as he fell out of favour with Wayne Pearce and struggled for form behind the likes of Joel Caine and Laloa Milford. McGuinness was resigned to playing Metropolitan Cup in 2001 before the Broncos threw him a lifeline.
He's been given a chance, and now he has the opportunity to emulate British prop Harvey Howard, who went from Wests Tigers discard to Premiership winner in 12 months.
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