Three-time premiership-winner Steve Menzies says going back-to-back is the hardest job in the NRL and the North Queensland Cowboys will need everything to go their way to get the job done.

Not since the Brisbane Broncos in 1997 (Super League) and 1998 has a team won two consecutive titles.

“Teams lift when you play against them [as premiers],” Menzies told sportsfan.com.au.

“You’re not just another team, you’re the standard [by] which we judge NRL teams.

“You need to be peaking at the right time, you need to gel, you need [luck with] injuries.

“Can you do it? Yes.

“Are they prepared as well as they can be? A hundred per cent. Are they doing okay with injuries at the start of the year? A hundred per cent.

“But you need so many other influences [working in your favour that] you have to back against it.

“I really think this year is going to be one of the closest that we’ve had.”