The North Queensland Cowboys enter 2026 as one of the competition's most under pressure teams.
There is simply no doubt on that front.
Todd Payten is a man who has, frankly, underachieved with his side since taking over. There have been finals appearances, but the consistency hasn't been there, and 2025 saw another downturn for the North Queensland outfit.
That shouldn't be happening to a team playing with the likes of Scott Drinkwater, Tom Dearden and Jeremiah Nanai.
What is clear is that the Cowboys need to turn things around if the playing group want to avoid a cull, and if Payten wants to continue in his job.
And there are some enormous selection questions facing the Cowboys as they head into the new year surrounding both their young talent and veterans alike.
Is Matt Lodge a chance of featuring?
Taumalolo starting, as well as the likelihood of Edwards, McIntyre and another veteran in Coen Hess featuring from the bench, means the Cowboys may have just one spot available for likely three players.
The signing of Matt Lodge during the off-season from the Manly Sea Eagles certainly offset the retirement of Jordan McLean in the experience department, but they may not have needed to make it.
Alread, one of Griffin Neame or Thomas Mikaele could find themselves on the outside of the 17 looking in, and now Lodge is added to that conversation.
Coach Payten was recently quoted suggesting Lodge is part of his best 22 players, so will certainly feature at some point, but it'll be difficult to overlook Neame for a role somewhere to start the season given his improvement and upside.
The Cowboys could well be one of the teams who benefit more than most from game day squads climbing to 19, provided the NRL decide to pull the trigger.
They are all good questions, sir.
To me, the fact that you are asking them tells me that the Cowboys recruitment and retention strategy is flawed and they have too many middling-price players, rather than a fewer high-priced, better guys plus a bunch of cheap juniors coming into the squad.