In a five-part series this masthead will re-examine the twists and turns of the 2023 NRL season to unpack how and why the Cowboys regressed.

Part 2 explores why the Cowboys only won two of their first seven games and the recurring issues that emerged.

Have you read Part 1: The World Cup Hangover?Go back and catch up here.

PART 2: A SHAKY START DISRUPTED BY FORCED CHANGES

There were signs that the Cowboys had taken a backwards step as soon as their season began.

After two lacklustre trial matches – a last-gasp comeback to draw 22-22 with the Dolphins in Cairns followed by a 20-18 loss to the Broncos – Tom Dearden admitted the team wasn’t where they wanted to be.

“The trials give you kind of a good indication of where we’re at, but they’re also about trying things,” Dearden said at the time.

“I thought probably both our trial games were a little bit scrappy with the ball and we made some errors. So it’s about looking at that and trying to improve and making sure that we can get it right to start the season.”

That lack of polish was still apparent during North Queensland’s one-point triumph over the Canberra Raiders. The Cowboys had led 18-0 late in the first half before allowing Emre Guler to stroll in under the posts just before the halftime whistle.

Two tries after the break levelled the scores and the Cowboys looked directionless in attack until Chad Townsend slotted the winning field goal.

It was a game Todd Payten characterised as a “Jekyll and Hyde performance.”

North Queensland’s round 2 loss to the Broncos didn’t spark any extra confidence, especially after Scott Drinkwater was handed a three-game ban for an ugly shot on Corey Oates. Peta Hiku was also sidelined for two games for a crusher tackle on Oates that occurred before Drinkwater’s hit.

Drinkwater’s sin bin was the first of 10 for the Cowboys in 2023 and the pair’s bans forced Payten to ring the changes with Tom Chester and Gehamat Shibasaki coming into the starting side.

Another fast start fizzled away to nothing in round 3 as the Cowboys didn’t score beyond the 14th minute and fell to the Warriors 26-12 at home.

Payten didn’t hold back after that loss.

“We’ve been getting what we deserve,” he said.

“We cough up the ball, give away penalties and give the opposition too many shots at our line and can’t defend them and we don’t deserve to win.”

A win against the Gold Coast – who lost both Kieran Foran and AJ Brimson to injury early – was soured when Murray Taulagi went down with an MCL injury.

That was followed by three consecutive losses to the Bulldogs, Dolphins and Warriors.

Payten had identified the team’s issues with errors and yardage penalties by this point but was still searching for an answer on how to fix it.

“We’re getting close but close isn’t good enough,” Payten said after the second loss to New Zealand.

“I thought we had too many yardage penalties. We had four in the first half, one after half time – if you want to win you can’t be doing that.”

In hindsight, three losses to the top-four finishing Broncos and Warriors doesn’t look so bad, but failing to beat the Bulldogs made it clear the Cowboys had regressed.

Allowing a last-minute try to Josh Addo-Carr and a Matt Burton field goal in golden point extra time was something that would not have happened last year.

Losing Jordan McLean and Heilum Luki to injury during that game, as well as fears for Jason Taumalolo following a hip-drop tackle by Jayden Okunbor, led to Payten making a correct prediction.

“It’s going to take a squad mentality and effort for this whole season,” Payten said.

“We’re probably going to lose a couple … and we’re going to have to go a little bit deeper.”

After fielding 25 players throughout 2022, North Queensland used 31 this season in fewer games.

Although it disrupted the team, one of the shining lights to come out of 2023 was the emergence of Tom Chester, Zac Laybutt and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

But playing too many games without the team’s strike weapons – especially due to suspension rather than injury – damaged North Queensland’s finals hopes.