The final insult to Broncos fans after Queensland's nightmare year

It has been a tough season for Queensland based NRL outfits.

While the Brisbane Broncos are still a chance of playing finals football, the North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans have both had seasons to forget in 2019.

However, the Queensland franchises' lack of success doesn't explain the full extent of the disease that has spread north, with the traditional boast of being the true home of rugby league put to the test by back-to-back Origin failures and the sky blue tinge that is spreading through Red Hill.

Should the Broncos make the playoffs this season it will be largely due to the influence of three New South Welshmen - impressive rookies Payne Haas and Kotoni Staggs and man mountain Tevita Pangai Junior, who just a matter of months ago decided to withdraw his Origin eligibility so he could focus on representing Tonga.

Broncos centre Staggs has impressed many in NRL circles this season, not least rugby league royalty Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports QLDER, Lockyer was the first to heap praise on the Broncos youngster.

"What impresses me most is his (Staggs') attitude," Lockyer said.

"He's not a centre that is out there waiting for the football. He goes to the game for it.

"Defensively, he does his job, and when he's got the footy - he's always a threat."

Lewis was excited about Staggs' personality.

"He's a fantastic young man," Lewis said.

"He's hungry, he wants to achieve success, and he'll go to any length (to get that)."

If Staggs plays Origin next year, as Lewis and Lockyer tipped was more than possible, he would run out in blue, not maroon.

Staggs would add to a raft of young Brisbane based players who have have been brought to the club from south of the border, in a stinging blow to proud Queensland fans.

Haas, the odds on favourite to win rookie of the year, has already played one game in New South Wales' successful campaign this year, and will likely be a stalwart of Brad Fittler's setup for years to come.

Pangai Jr. is another who isn't taking the well-worn path from Brisbane based clubs to Queensland Origin, or Australian representation, given his allegiance to the Tongan national setup. In an additional blow, if he were to revert from those duties, he would also play in blue.

And, whilst not representative related, another bright spot for the Broncos, David Fifita, is off contract from the beginning of November, and will more than likely be packing his bags to head to another NRL club.

It's all tough news to take for Queensland fans, as an equally tough 2019 draws to a close.