McGuire says Cowboys move will prolong his career

Josh McGuire has detailed how playing alongside the club's powerhouse pack will take his game to another level and prolong his career after describing his move to Townsville as "a breath of fresh air".

The Cowboys were after a representative-standard middle forward to partner Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean and Matt Scott.

In McGuire, they found the perfect candidate. His big-minute engine and reputation for doing the one-percenters will be welcomed in Townsville.

Former teammates Corey Oates and Matt Lodge have both conceded McGuire will be irreplaceable at the Broncos - another sign the Cowboys have made a purchase they won't regret.

The move to the Cowboys is one the 28-year-old Kangaroos and Maroons lock is not regretting either after inking a four-year deal with the club following his release from the Brisbane Broncos.

"It's a great club. It's been a breath of fresh air to come up here," McGuire said.

" I needed a change. An opportunity arose that I couldn't refuse and I took it.

"I have no ill-will toward the Broncos. They will always have a place in my heart but I had been there since I was 15 years old and played 10 years of first grade there so for myself and my family I felt it was the right time to step away and pursue another opportunity."

The opportunity to join a more experienced forward pack keen to make up for a disappointing 2018 also has McGuire reinvigorated.

It's a great club. It's been a breath of fresh air to come up here

Josh McGuire on the Cowboys

"It gives me a chance to prolong my career and it's a good opportunity to get together with those guys [in the Cowboys pack] and improve our footy together, feeding and bouncing off each other," he said.

"Expectations always come when you are at such a prestigious club like the Cowboys and nothing has changed. A lot of the boys are disappointed with the way the year went for them but that only adds to the hunger of the group."

McGuire said he was pleased the Broncos coaching saga had been resolved with Anthony Seibold now on deck and Wayne Bennett at South Sydney. He said he had no inkling Bennett was about to be sacked.

"I have a lot of mates there and it is good to see that the club is back on track," he said.

"It had nothing to do with me. I was out of there before everything went down. It's just great to be part of a club [at the Cowboys] that is so stable … and knows what they are working towards.

"It's a big year for me. I am excited about improving my footy and taking it to another level."