Do-or-die encounter just ideal for Leeds – McGuire

The torment and pain of rupturing his cruciate ligament in a controversial play-off win at Wigan Warriors was still fresh and the stand-off, rather than facing them again a fortnight later for a place at Old Trafford, was left contemplating plenty of dark days ahead.

Reigning champions Leeds, without their dynamic game-breaker as well as the towering Jamie Peacock, were edged out at Headingley Carnegie and their rivals went on to defeat St Helens in the Grand Final, closing the door on Rhinos’ recent domination.

Moving on to the present day, though, and McGuire not only finds himself back but playing his best football since finally returning from that devastating injury.

It bodes well for Leeds. They will need his attacking brilliance more than ever if they are going to make history and plot an attack from the depths of fifth place, his lingering threat sure to be analysed by opponents Huddersfield Giants ahead of tonight’s elimination play-off.

“The injury was bang on a year just the other day,” recalled McGuire, who, after some initial rustiness has silenced any doubters who thought he would return from the knee reconstruction a shadow of his former self.

“When I first found out what I had done they said it would be a nine to 12-month injury, but I was back playing within eight.

“It was really good how I did that but I didn’t appreciate how long it would take to get back the game sharpness and game awareness.

“That’s the stuff you take for granted when you’re playing week in, week out.

“I thought once I started training after eight months, that I’d be straight back playing and doing everything that I was used to doing.

“It did take a while so it was a little bit challenging but I feel like over the last sort of month or so my game is coming together well. I’m enjoying it and that’s the biggest thing.”

The perfect illustration was McGuire’s movement when scoring his 200th career try for the club while helping eliminate Hull FC on Sunday evening.

That characteristic step, jinx and acceleration was performed with all the customary finesse that had earmarked the exciting half-back as a great when he first made his debut more than a decade ago.

It is certain the old swagger is back and the England star continued: “I reckon about a month ago was the first time I wasn’t nervous going into a game about carrying any little niggling injuries or worried about the situation with my knee.

“It does play on your mind a little but I was always confident the knee was going to stand up to it.

“Mentally, it’s still in the back of your mind but it feels really good and really strong and I look forward to a good finish.”

It is no surprise that McGuire’s growing presence – and that of Peacock who suffered the same injury and mirrored his team-mate’s lengthy rehabilitation – has emerged at the same time as Leeds’ best run of form.

The destruction of Hull was an eighth win in 10 games and as convincing as that was, with their international duo back in situ, they are well set to stride further in the play-off race.

For McGuire, he is simply glad to be able to play his part in battling towards Old Trafford.

“It was really tough at the back end of last year,” he recalled.

“You want to be doing your bit and when the team are struggling or not in a good situation, you see yourself in there and helping out.

“It was the same at the start of this year, too. It’s really frustrating when you can’t do it but while I was injured I was quite positive with everything really and I always thought I’d get back.”

Having pushed Wigan close in a titanic Challenge Cup final last month, Leeds believe the chances of them becoming the first club to reach Manchester from outside the top three should not be discounted; they finished in fifth but with an ominous flourish.

“The big thing about finishing outside the top four is that you don’t get a second chance, and you’ve got to play two games away from home to get to the final which is the major challenge,” said the 28-year-old, who stands behind only wing legends Eric Harris (391), John Atkinson (340), Alan Smith (283) and Drew Turnbull (228) in Leeds’ all-time top scorers.

“That is how it should be; you need to be tested and probably don’t deserve to get home advantage in any games.

“We missed out this year and will have to do it the hard way but nobody has done it from outside the top three teams.

“What a story it would make. Hopefully, we can be the first team to do that.”

McGuire, who has reverted to scrum-half since his Easter return with captain Kevin Sinfield continuing at stand-off, believes they have the mentality.

Having won four Grand Finals since 2004, Leeds undoubtedly have the experience but are not well fancied, their poor start to 2011 under new coach Brian McDermott leading many to believe that the Rhinos’ golden era is over.

“Some people probably thought we weren’t going to make the eight at one point,” added McGuire. “And I haven’t heard as many people speak about our chances in these play-offs so there is less pressure on us.

“But we have a knack of being able to turn it on at the right time; as a team we play better when it’s do-or-die.

“With the Challenge Cup runs of the last two years, and being involved in the play-offs, you see the best in our team when there is no second chances, like what we have on Friday night.”

If Leeds are going to break new ground, and Giants’ tackles, it seems inevitable their famous son, and all his resilience, will be central to the cause.