North Queensland coach Paul Green says they will open up the cheque-book as they look to climb back into NRL finals contention in 2020.
The Cowboys closed out a disappointing year in Melbourne with a 24-16 loss to the minor premiers, well outside the finals with just nine wins.
Despite their some big names in the line-up including Jason Taumalolo, Michael Morgan, and representative props Josh McGuire and Coen Hess, North Queensland’s season never got going.
Star fullback Ben Barba was sacked before playing a game after a domestic violence issue while their pre-season was derailed by flooding in Townsville.
Winger Nene Macdonald was also released from the club while centre Justin O’Neil suffered a ruptured spleen and five-eighth Te Maire Martin a brain bleed which ended their year.
Retiring prop Matt Scott also suffered a stroke late in the season.
Missing their second successive finals campaign Green said it had been a tough year.
“It was one of those years where there were a number of different things went against us along the way,” Green said.
“Just being able to get our best, or close to our best, team on the park consistently is key to having a successful year and so we will look at all that stuff.”
Green said the club had the money to add more players to the mix, particularly in the outside backs where they took the biggest hit.
‘We’ve got space in the cap which is always a good position to be in so we will see what opportunities come up but potentially outside backs is an area we need to get stronger in,” he said.
The Cowboys are moving into a new stadium and Green said it was an ideal time to re-set.
“It’s a new start from a lot of different perspectives so it’s important we use a bit of this motivation to come back and knuckle down and work hard and start the season a lot better next year.”
As head coach Green admitted he had felt some heat from the poor results.
“It comes with the job – it’s results-driven – that’s the way the game is.
“No-one probably puts more pressure on me than myself so I’ve got to reflect on the year too to see how I can be better.”
