North Queensland co-captain Chad Townsend expects the NRL will this year feature one of the tightest battles for the top eight that he has seen in his lengthy NRL career.

The 32-year-old veteran is tasked with orchestrating another successful year in Townsville after a club record-equalling 17 wins in 2022 in just his first year at the Cowboys.

Townsend has kept a keen eye on acquisitions and player movements in the off season and knows NRL parity has improved significantly ahead of the 2023 season, which begins on Thursday.

He “definitely” believes the battle for finals spots will be on slimmer margins, and that every game across the 27 rounds will count.

“There was probably a bit of separation last year between the top five and the rest of the comp,” he said.

“There have been a number of teams that have recruited very well, and there will be a couple of teams that might surprise a few people.

“At the end of the day, our focus is here and what we can do, and we’ve got an excited group that are ready to rip in.”

Fresh off an overall finish of third in 2022, the Cowboys enter the year with loftier external expectations and an internal desire to go one further.

Closer to home, Townsend and his leadership group are gunning for consecutive top-four finishes and the significance that holds.