Parramatta hooker Isaac De Gois has backed his former Cronulla teammates to come back stronger after their year from hell.

De Gois moved to the Eels mid-season following a serious knee injury to Nathan Peats but the veteran rake denied he was desperate to get away from the Sharks despite the uncertainty around the club following the ASADA investigation.

Crippled by injuries and suspensions issued by the anti-doping authority in addition to the resignation of stand-in coach Peter Sharp and the sacking of Todd Carney, De Gois could be forgiven for being pleased to escape the Sharks.

But the 29-year-old, who played over 100 games for the club either side of a three-season stint with Newcastle, said he found it difficult to walk away from some close friends in the middle of such a difficult time.

“I wouldn’t say it was a relief to leave but they are going through a tough time and no-one wants to see a club go through that,” De Gois said.

“But they are a tough club and a good group of boys and they will hang in there and come out next year firing.

“It was hard leaving your mates. But it’s something that had to be done. I had to look after myself and a young family.

“But people leave clubs all the time, it’s just the way it is.”

De Gois has revelled in playing 80 minute games for his new club after putting pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal in June.

He was lauded for his performance against Manly last Friday by coach Brad Arthur – a man who rarely praises individual players.

De Gois said he was surprised to hear Arthur claim it was the best game of a career that is closing in on almost 200 appearances in the NRL.

“I am enjoying it here and being in a winning team as sure as hell beats being in a losing one,” he said.

“I thought it was a great performance from everyone. We were down 12-0 to, in my opinion, the top team in the comp.

“It was real good performance across the board.”