'My worst fears were realised tonight': Gus Gould sticks the boot into 'pedestrian' Cowboys

Phil Gould has all but written off the North Queensland Cowboys' 2020 season following their 'pedestrian' opening round loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

Despite a late fightback in the final 10 minutes, the Cowboys were well beaten for majority of the match, succumbing to a 28-21 defeat at the hands of the Broncos.

Gould admitted post-match he was left disappointed in the Cowboys' at times listless display, declaring not much has changed from the last two seasons which has seen them missing out on finals footy.

"I think the Cowboys are in for a very, very long year," Gould said.

"I hate to say that in front of Johnathan, but they've got some real problems. And I sort of thought that before the game but I thought the occasion would have got them home.

"My worst fears were realised tonight watching them. The body language, just the way the side functioned, they had players out of position, I don't think they've got enough green shoots coming through in young players in a development pathway and striving to be apart of this team.

"I just think they looked very pedestrian. I couldn't see anything different from previous years and it can only get worse when that's happening and I think they're in a really bad place at the moment."

For the Broncos, David Fifita the Cowboys their new Townsville home.

The 20-year-old defied his 113kg frame to skip through a Coen Hess tackle, sprint 70m and leave Valentine Holmes clutching at air for a sensational solo try.

His stunning 57th-minute effort broke open the contest, before the Cowboys scored two late tries and had another disallowed to ensure another tight Queensland derby in front of 22,459 fans.