When the Cowboys were bundled out by the Sharks in a semi-final last year, the sense around the club’s supporter base was that what had drawn to a close was an underwhelming 2024 campaign.

Yes, the Cowboys were able to win a finals game, downing the Knights in an elimination final the week prior, but it’s fair to say that if it wasn’t for a bad Kalyn Ponga pass, it would have been Newcastle progressing.

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They were given another chance to show they were a force to be reckoned with a week later against Cronulla. Instead, they laid a goose egg in the first half at Allianz Stadium to trail the Sharks 24-0 at the break before showing some fight when it was all over in a 26-18 loss.

It was a limp end to an up-and-down season that promised so much more.

While disappointing, it gave the Cowboys a chance to reassess in the off-season. Key players would be leaving, such as Val Holmes, Kyle Feldt and Kulikefu Finefeuaki.

Even without that trio, the Cowboys still entered 2025 boasting one of the most talented rosters in the competition.

Over the past few seasons, they’ve been among the league leaders in Origin representatives. 2025 would be no different.

However, the Cowboys have regressed dramatically this year.

Defence has been an Achilles heel for the club since 2022, when a league-leading defence took them to a prelim final.

But that side of the ball has never been worse than what they’ve displayed this season.

Through 20 games, they’ve won just seven and have conceded 595 points, which is a shade under 30 a game. That’s just awful.

Even in wet and dour conditions last Sunday, they failed to measure up defensively.

Once again, the Cowboys found themselves being blown away in the first half by a Sharks outfit.

They conceded 26 points in the first half en route to a 36-12 loss which all but ended their top eight hopes.

On Fox League, rugby league great Greg Alexander was scathing, launching an attack on the Cowboys’ effort and application.

“It doesn’t happen very often in the NRL where a team makes it obvious that they don’t want to be here, but that is the Cowboys this afternoon,” Alexander said.

“They are here in body but not in spirit.

“The Sharks are in cruise control and are tearing the Cowboys apart.

“I don’t know what Todd Payten says at half time. I really don’t.

‘This is the worst performance I’ve seen from a team this year.

“They are the most disappointing side this year because they have more talent in their side then plenty of other rosters.”

It’s hard to be too critical of Alexander’s assessment. It’s been a horror year for North Queensland and last Sunday’s first half was a encapsulation of that.

While in attack they can be brilliant, too many players are slacking off defensively and not willing to get their jerseys dirty.

Given he’s been on the hot seat for much of the season, there are grave concerns over Todd Payten’s job security, as veteran journalist Phil Rothfield noted on the Big Sports Breakfast radio show.

Rothfield also pointed out how grim the club’s form has been over the past three months, where they’ve been among the worst teams in the comp.

“The last 12 weeks, they’ve had three wins. Their three wins have come against the Titans, Dragons and Tigers,” Rothfield said.

“Their for and against is -177 which is the second worst in the competition behind Souths. Thw Rabbitohs have excuses as they have three quarters of their cap on the sideline.

“It’s not acceptable.

“They are way below expectations that their management, their board, their fans and their stakeholders have so pressure is well and truly building on Todd Payten.

“They’re behind the Tigers and Dragons on the ladder with a far, far superior roster that should be in the top eight. They haven’t had major injuries either.”

A late run in the club’s final four games of the season is all the Cowboys can hope for so they can enter the off-season with some much needed momentum.

Then, a reset.

There’s enough talent on this roster with the likes of Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Scott Drinkwater. But for this team to be successful, several players need to dig deeper and be willing to do the hard things first.