The Cowboys came riding into 2023 as genuine premiership contenders after falling just one try short of making the 2022 grand final.
But second-year syndrome has taken hold in Townsville, with Todd Payten’s men looking “a shadow of themselves” after seven rounds.
North Queensland were the fairytale story of last season, rising from 15th on the ladder in 2021 to finish 3rd in 2022 and they even hosted a preliminary final.