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.
Chad Townsend joined the Cowboys in 2022 and, to a certain degree, wound back the clock to have something close to his best season in the NRL as he guided a team widely tipped for the bottom four into the preliminary finals.
But boy did that not last.
2023 was a disaster for Townsend, who lacked creativity, lost his accurate kicking game and had little to no control or influence over the results of his team.
Of course, that isn't the only problem the Cowboys faced in 2023 as they slumped into the bottom half of the ladder, but it's impossible to suggest any team with a misfiring fullback are going to be able to set the world on fire.
The bottom line is they need a spark in attack. You could argue they should have plenty of that through Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden, as well as the excellent Reece Robson at hooker.
But if they can't get it right at seven this year, then the rest of it becomes a moot point.
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.
The plight of Jason Taumalolo in recent seasons has been one to follow with interest.
While the veteran forward still has four years to run on his current deal with the Townsville-based outfit, there is little doubt that there are issues.
He was stripped of the captaincy ahead of this year's campaign, and was recently targetted by the St George Illawarra Dragons.
While Taumalolo, his management and more importantly the club put on a united front, it's unlikely to be a rumour that'll go anywhere anytime soon. He was reportedly left shocked by the decision to axe the captaincy from his grasp, but it's ultimately a decision that could be for the best.
His production has simply been down in recent seasons. That's not to say it has been bad, but the role of a modern day lock forward has passed Taumalolo by.
There is a school of thought that suggests to get him back to his best, a move to prop will be the way to go. Run hard, tackle hard, don't worry about the rest.
Whichever way it goes, the Cowboys need him playing big mintues at big production if they are going to propel their way back into the top eight this year.
This must be the season where Griffin Neame finally realises all of the potential he has shown at every level he has played up until the NRL.
He has long been rated as the best young forward in the Cowboys' system, but to this point, has been denied a starting role by the likes of Coen Hess and Jordan McLean.
That can't be the case in 2024 both for his own personal career, but frankly, for the Cowboys as a club. If they want to go to the next level, then they need the forward to fire.
It comes with an ageing forward pack around him. We already mentioned Hess and McLean, but Taumalolo is no spring chicken anymore either.
There are other young players at the Cowboys, but Neame is the one who can break it open. He has shown glimpses of his capabilities, but this year he must break through on a consistent basis.
This is the question that will likely have kept Todd Payten awake for much of the off-season.
The simple point is here is that four players do not go into three spots.
It's a good headache to have, but one Payten needs to get right given the importance of the roles to the way the Cowboys play their rugby league.
What is clear is that Jeremiah Nanai will have one of the starting spots when he is fit. That is a given. He is one of the best attacking weapons in the competition, even if there are clear issues as pointed out earlier at the other end of the park.
But beyond that, things do get a little complicated thanks to the breakout form of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki at the back-end of the 2023 campaign.
He will be in the mix for minutes, but so too will the more experienced mid-2022 recruit Luciano Leilua who has been rumoured to be on the outer, and Heilum Luki, who, despite battling with injuries in recent seasons, is on the radar of the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Luki has long been rated one of the most talented younger players in the competition, but hasn't been able to hit that potential thanks to the amount of time he has been sidelined.
Who misses out is realistically anyone's guess, but from the Cowboys point of view, they have suggested they want to find a role for all four.
Attempting to do that could be as big of a detriment to their own success as any other coaching move Payten will make this season.