McGuireM called in to boost Dragons

NEW Dragons recruit Josh McGuire will be called into the side to play the Warriors today after prop Blake Lawrie failed a late fitness test yesterday.

McGuire, who joined the club from North Queensland on Tuesday, will come off the bench with Trent Merrin moving into the starting side after Lawrie was ruled out with a knee injury.

The former Test and Origin forward is yet to be officially named with Jackson Ford remaining in the 19-man squad but given Ford played reserve grade on Saturday McGuire’s debut is a fait accompli.

“He’s a tough forward, he’s someone in the middle of our pack who will be able to play minutes,” said coach Anthony Griffin. “He’s a real competitor, he’s played a lot of Origin and Test football, a lot of finals. That experience and the attitude he brings will be the thing we’re looking for from him.

“He’s had a full week with us. He’s been really good, as you’d expect.”

McGuire joins a forward pack brimming with confidence after an upset win over Parramatta propelled the Red V to a 4-1 start to the season.

A renewed attitude in defence, and a true pack mentality from the big men, has the pre-season wooden spoon favourites riding high.

“I’m loving it – usually I hate defence, it hurts, you have people sprinting at you and you think you’re going to get whacked,” said backrower Josh Kerr. “But I think we’re just enjoying it now. You always talk about having a pack mentality, you always say that, that you want to hunt as a pack and do all these things together.

“But this is the first time we’re really been doing it together for a long period of time. You can feel the excitement. We just keep turning up, it’s awesome.

“Hook is real old school, just get up and bash.”