LIFT OR GET LEFT BEHIND

YOU can’t sugar-coat a bitter pill – season 2019 was a tough year for the Queensland teams with one team – the Broncos – making the eight, two missing out and one of them collecting the dreaded wooden spoon.

All three Queensland sides have gone to the market to fix the holes in their rosters but how will they fare in 2020?

If you had to sum up the Broncos’ 2019 season in one word it would be inconsistent.

The Broncos showed at stages last season they were capable of mixing it with the best teams in the competition but their inability to maintain that level for 80 minutes was what hurt them most.

They managed to beat the eventual premiers, the Roosters,

in Round 10, but were then dusted by the eventual wooden spooners, the Gold Coast Titans, in Round 13.

If the Broncos want to be premiership contenders in 2020 they need to close the gap between their best and worst performances.

That’s something coach Anthony Seibold has addressed in the off-season.

It’s easy to point the finger at new recruit Brodie Croft and say he’s the key man for the Broncos this season, but the player I’m most looking forward to watching is Jack Bird.

Everyone knows what Bird is capable of but due to injury he hasn’t been able to deliver during his time at the Broncos.

Bird has had an outstanding off-season and been rewarded with the Broncos’ fullback spot for Round 1.

If he can fire, he can be the player who leads the Broncos deep into September.

There’s no denying the Broncos have the best group of young talent in the competition, but it’s time for that young talent to start delivering on their potential.

The Broncos pack is frightening. I don’t think I’ve seen a player who can do what young prop Payne Haas can do on the paddock.

He’s a big body with a big motor and he has an unquenchable thirst for work.

And you combine that with two human wrecking balls in David Fifita and Tevita Pangai Jr and two tireless workhorses in Joe Ofahengaue and Pat Carrigan and the Broncos have a pack capable of finishing in the top four.

It was an underwhelming 2019 season for North Queensland, who lacked the spark and attacking creativity to challenge the top teams.

But with the addition of Valentine Holmes and Esan Marsters, the Cowboys have the