Mcguire’s shift to Red V feels like ‘high-school reunion’

JOSH Mcguire likened his arrival at St George Illawarra to a “high school reunion’’, but he’s more excited about helping the Dragons’ young squad graduate into a premiership force.

Mcguire yesterday said he left North Queensland because at age 31, he did not want to “just wait and rebuild’’.

While the Dragons started the season as one of the favourites to win the wooden spoon, they have proved the doubters wrong under new coach Anthony Griffin.

And central to the resurgence has been a collection of former Broncos headed by Corey Norman, Andrew Mccullough and Ben Hunt, who were all coached by Griffin, as well as Jack Bird.

Mcguire said it had made for a familiar feeling for the forward, who played 194 matches for Brisbane.

“It definitely makes the transition a lot easier, when I rolled in on Tuesday it felt like a highschool reunion,” Mcguire said.

“I’ve been playing with Macca and Hunty since we were 14. We’re good mates.”

Mcguire also has a strong relationship with Griffin, who coached the Broncos from 2011-14.

The former Queensland and Kangaroos representative is keen to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of Dragons, such as Blake Lawrie, Josh Kerr and Tyrell Fuimaono.

“This club’s in a great position,” Mcguire said.

“They’ve got a really good bunch of young fellas here.

“If I can pass on anything that can help just one of the fellas become a better football player then I feel like I’m doing my job.”

While the Cowboys had started to show progress in recent weeks, Mcguire said “it got a bit hard” and “didn’t really eventuate” in Townsville with his former club.

“The way the season started at the Cows and the direction they were going in, I think they were trying to probably rebuild,” said Mcguire, who labelled the Cowboys as “embarrassing” earlier this season.

Mcguire made a solid debut for the Dragons on Sunday, making 15 runs for 125m in a 20-14 loss to the Warriors.