The Eels have been criticised, scorned, lambasted and ridiculed for the purchases in which they have made by both Eels fans and other NRL fans, but for one of the new recruits, Casey McGuire, he believes that all of the older recruits are ready to fire and play well.
All five recruits range from the ages of 28-32, and as a result, the Eels have been heavily criticised by many who think that all the players that the club has bought, are past it.
As a result, with many believing that the new recruits are well and truly past it, McGuire, along with the other Eels recruits are more than eager to prove their worth and show that they still have what it takes in the NRL.
McGuire also believes that the formula the Eels will use is that with a mix of youth and experience in their side, will bode well for them in their 2011 season.
“I think with a lot of us like Chris Walker and Carl and myself, we are all around the 30 years of age mark now and we see it as a fresh start,” McGuire told AAP.
“With all the younger players in the squad now, we’re feeding off their enthusiasm and we feel like we’re learning it all again.
“Carl’s especially been training the house down and I think it’s working really well.”
McGuire mad his debut for the Eels in 1998, before playing for the Broncos for 6 years in which he won a premiership in last year with the Broncos in 2006.
McGuire, who has good utility value, as he is able to play centre, five-eighth, halfback and hooker, was rewarded for his utility value and played Origin in 2005 for QLD, and he hopes that his ability to play several positions will boost the Eels depth.
“I was thinking I’d love to have one more crack at the NRL but by the time I left France I probably thought I’d missed my opportunity,” said McGuire, who now has two young children.
“I’m very grateful for Parramatta for throwing me a lifeline and I want to repay them by having a good year.
“I’m happy to play the same role I did in Brisbane which was to fill in a few different positions. The season is a long time and anything can happen so I want to be ready and be training everywhere.”