THE Cowboys have added more punch to their forward pack for 2019 after confirming the signing of Broncos enforcer Josh McGuire on a four-year deal.

McGuire has played 194 NRL games over 10 seasons after debuting with Brisbane in 2009.

The 28-year-old has also made 11 appearances for Queensland and a further eight for Australia and is the incumbent lock for both sides.

He previously made seven appearances for Samoa between 2010 and 2017.

McGuire adds further depth to a Cowboys forward pack already containing fellow internationals Matt Scott, Jordan McLean and Jason Taumalolo as well as current Queensland teammates Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess.

Head coach Paul Green has a strong relationship with McGuire which stretches back more than a decade and said he is excited to reunite with the talented forward at the Cowboys.

“I coached Josh as a junior at both the Queensland Academy of Sport and the Broncos Academy and have followed his career closely,” Green said.

“His development over the years has really impressed me and to reconnect and have the opportunity to work with him again is something I’m personally really looking forward to.

“I’m really excited about what Josh can bring to the Cowboys.”

Cowboys director of football Peter Parr said attracting a world-class forward like McGuire to North Queensland was a huge coup for the club.

“We have been looking to strengthen our squad by signing another quality middle forward and clearly as a current Australian and Queensland player Josh fits that bill,” Parr said.

“As a player he has the attributes other players like to have in a teammate and we are excited to have someone of Josh’s quality joining the likes of Jordan McLean, Matt Scott, Scott Bolton and Jason Taumalolo in the middle of the field.

“With his experience he’ll be able to help with the continued education of some of our younger forwards including Corey Jensen, Emry Pere and Francis Molo.”