The North Queensland Cowboys come into the 2024 season off what can only be described as a disappointing slide over the last 12 months, and they will be desperate to prove their preliminary final appearance in 2022 wasn't simply a flash in the pan.

But to prove that, Todd Payten's side are going to have to overcome some significant roadblocks, although they have already taken a handful of steps to address the biggest issues.

Even with some steps taken in Townsville though, that certainly doesn't mean the Cowboys come into the new campaign as a favoured team likely to turn things around.

Their form last year was nothing short of abysmal as they collapsed from a preliminary final in 2022 to missing the top eight altogether in 2023. That said, their horror fade down the table was somewhat sheltered thanks to abysmal performances from a number of other finals-sliding clubs.

Here are the questions that will determine whether the Cowboys make their way back up the table in 2024, or are set for another season of poor results.

2. Can the right edge defence improve?

Jeremiah Nanai might be talked up as one of the best attacking options in the competition, but his defence leaves plenty to be desired coming into the new campaign.

It's something I've written about on Zero Tackle extensively previously, but simply put, his issues in defence as the fourth man in on the right-hand side have created far too many issues for Todd Payten's side.

In patches during 2023, he showed improvement, but his decision-making at that end of the park during 2023 was downright awful at times.

But it wasn't just Nanai of course - it takes more than one player to create a problem with an edge defensively.

Chad Townsend, Peta Hiku and Kyle Feldt made up that edge for much of the season. The issue there of course is that three older players with less speed to burn than their opposition were trying to cover for the defensive fragility of Nanai.

It created a recipe for disaster, with the Cowboys, particularly during the first half of the season, being exposed time and time again.

Hiku has now left the club, and both Townsend and Feldt are no guarantee of being picked if the Cowboys' form doesn't turn around. Nanai needs to improve, but personnel changes around him could be equally the solution to this glaring issue for Payten's team.