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Brisbane Broncos forward Josh McGuire is hopeful he will replace Corey Parker as the club's lock for the 2017 season. 

McGuire has played majority of his 150-game career at prop, but Parker's retirement at the end of the 2016 season has opened the door to a shock positional switch. 

There is no doubt McGuire has the work rate to succeed in the No.13 jersey, with the 26-year-old averaging 142 run metres and 33 tackles per game throughout the 2016 season.  

It remains to be seen if coach Wayne Bennett will answer McGuire's plea, but the Aspley junior has made it clear what he wants to start come Round 1 of the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership season. 

"I'm unsure where I'll be playing next year," McGuire said. 

"I don't think anyone knows what Wayne will decide to do. I even played a game at five-eighth this year.

"I'd love an opportunity to play lock so I'll wait and see where the coaching staff want me to play."

The positional switch could be what McGuire needs to get back into the Australian selectors good books after being overlooked for the Kangaroos' Four Nations tour of England. 

McGuire was expected to be one of the first selected for the tour after having a stellar 2016 that included selection for Queensland in all three State of Origin matches, as well as national selection. 

After previously representing Samoa on six occasions, McGuire was selected to make his Test debut for the Kangaroos in their 16-0 Anzac Test match win over New Zealand in May. 

The man affectionately known as 'Moose' put in a solid performance that night, producing a respectable 131 run metres and 19 tackles after starting on the bench.  

But that wasn't enough to see him selected again, and McGuire couldn't help but show his disappointment when reflecting on missing selection. 

"I'm obviously disappointed that I wasn't selected but you can't pick everyone," he said. 

"I'll go back to the drawing board and reassess a few things within my game. 

"Hopefully if I do that well I'll get another opportunity to wear the green and gold next year.

"I'm not sure why I missed out on the tour. They must have thought I wasn't playing good enough footy. That's fine and I accept that.

"I just have to play better football for the Broncos and if that involves a move to lock then so be it."


This article first appeared on NRL.com

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