After another bumper off-season of player movement, take a look below at who we think will have the biggest impact at their new club in 2019.
5. Josh McGuire
After a stellar 10-year 194 game career at the Broncos, Josh McGuire was released from the final year of his contract at Red Hill and subsequently moved up to the far North in search of a fresh start at the Cowboys.
McGuire's newly inked four-year deal with the Townsville based club means they can lay claim to potentially the scariest and most dynamic forward pack in the competition, joining the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Matt Scott, Coen Hess, Jordan McLean, John Asiata and Gavin Cooper.
Although 2018 was McGuire's 11th season in the top grade, the Kangaroos and Maroons hard man showed no signs of slowing down. Putting up impressive numbers of 117 run metres per game, along with 33 tackles at an efficiency of 88.5%.
McGuire will have a point to prove heading into 2019, particularly to his old club the Broncos. Who may or may not have pushed the Australian representative out the door to accommodate the spate of young-forwards they have recently re-signed.
Having already played for the Maroons on 11 occasions, as well as for Samoa and Australia on 7 and 8 occasions respectively, McGuire will be looking to add another chapter to his already impressive career in Townsville.
Klemmer is a cat… he will make meters I give him that, but rarely wins a battle when it is taken to him
Fergo will smash up kick returns, quick ball plays to start sets in the best possible ways.
The rest of the team decides if he can finish sets with tries in the corner.
All five are great players. Good pickups.
I dont agree these are the 5 best recruits. These are the 5 best players changing clubs but outside of Ferguson i dont think these players are what their club needed.
E.g. cowboys already had a strong forward pack, did they really need McGuire??.
I think the top 5 recruits are Ferguson for reasons already mentioned.
Matterson, tigers havent had a quality 2nd rower since for years. He can really transforn that right edge, not only does he run great lines but also can create for the players around him.
Boyd, Gold Coast have been crying out for a quality big man. Hes early hit ups will take pressure of the likes of Wallace, James and Arrow by attracting more defenders so the others will be facing one and two man tackles rather than 3 and 4 man tackles the following play. This should lead to quicker play the balls which may well be the key to unlocking Ash Taylors talent.
Paulo, similar story to Boyd above. Whilst the likes of Alvaro, Mau and Brown arent big and strong enough to impact a defensive line themself, they could really benefit from following a player who can.
Norman, (possibly) hasnt had a decent pack to play behind before but will now that he is at St George. Gives St George the ball playing fullback (Widdop) theyve been wanting for sometime. But, questions about disrupting the team and keeping his ego in check (not being the dominant half he wants to be) need to be answered yet.
Now i dont expect these 5 to suddenly outperform the 5 in the article. For example Chrighton is in for a bigger year than Matterson, not only is he a better player but also in a stronger team but as i said these are not the best 5 players but the 5 who could be the most impactful at their new club.