DCE's back half of the year injury was no mystery. He came back too early from his ankle injury in his desire to captain Qld in Origin and unfortunately it hampered his running game for the rest of the year. He was nowhere near 100% fit before Origin, but declared himself as such. Even he admitted that it was a mistake.
Obviously our biggest issue in 2020 is going to be hooker. We put our eggs in the Fainu basket when we released Api. Unfortunately his legal issues has broken more than a few yolk's. It looks likely that the job will now go to Lachlan Croker with Cade Cust as his main backup. As to how either handles the job remains to be seen. Croker is a better passer and defender, Cust has a better running game. It will be interesting to see how Des has them working because right now I doubt that Fainu will be playing next year at all.
The forwards are otherwise OK, fitness and injury not withstanding. With Sips back on deck and the emergence of Keppie, plus Boyle, Jetski and Waddell, I think we are good there. I don't expect T-Rex to be much more than an injury or Origin time replacement.
Turbo's fitness will be the key in the backs. Elliot is OK, serviceable some may say, but he's not a game breaker like Tom is. The more Tom is in the #1 jumper, the better. Garrick has pace on the wing, but his defence still needs a lot of work. Suli is developing into a game breaker while I thought Brad Parker came into his own this year and towards the back end of the season started to show up a lot better in attack. Which then leaves Jorge.....not quick by any stretch of the imagination, but can score from close range and hits like a sledgehammer in defence. As joeboy said though, he's prone to lapses of concentration and a lack of urgency at times.
Provided they can stay healthy, I think DCE and Walks can continue to grow as a halves pair. But with Walks being more a runner than a passer or organiser, DCE is going to have to step up when it comes to organising the attack. He can't just be a running half. However, I do expect to see more improvement from Walks as a 5/8. He definitely did a better job of it this year than in 2016 and there is no reason he can't continue to improve in the role.
If Fainu was a definite starter I'd have said top 4 easily provided they keep up the type of form we had this year. But with him likely to be MIA, I'd say we're more 5-8 than 1-4 right now, at least for the minor premiership. I still think if all goes well we can definitely be premiers in 2020.