JAKE Granville is adamant the Cowboys are meant to be in the finals.

It is what they are always striving for, but after two seasons on the outer come September the veteran hooker believes they are set for a return from the premiership wilderness.

Their title tilt kicks off against his former club, the Brisbane Broncos.

Granville says he may circle the date when he takes on the maroon and gold, but not necessarily to get one over the team he debuted with.

It is due to the finals-like intensity each clash between the Queensland sides created.

“Everyone says it, they always seem to get up against their old club, but I just see it as a derby,” Granville said.

“The club gets up to play the Broncos and they always have – the crowd gets involved and it feels like a more intense match.”

media_camera Jake Granville said Broncos clashes were always more intense. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

For arguably the first time since he came to the club in 2015, Granville’s hold of the No. 9 jersey is far from guaranteed.

The recruitment of Reece Robson and continued development of Reuben Cotter means he has two young guns nipping at his heels for regular time in the NRL.

But far from shying away from this competition, Granville is using it to improve his own game — even at 31 years of age.

As a leader in the group, the 2015 premiership winner believes his game management is key to retaining his spot in the starting 17, but is also expertise he is passing on to his younger counterparts.

“It’s always healthy to have that competition in your role and both the boys have been training really well,” Granville said.

“It’s exciting just to have those young fellas who are really buying in. They set the tone at a high when us older boys came back to training and they’ve kept it all the way through.

“I’ve helped the boys a little bit here and there with some simple things around the footy club and I’ve learned a bit off them as well in the way they do things.”

media_camera Reece Robson is nipping at Jake Granville’s heels. Photo: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

Whoever gets the nod to start at dummy-half, speed will inevitably be what drives the Cowboys spine in 2020.

Valentine Holmes, Michael Morgan, Scott Drinkwater and the three hookers all have dynamic running games at their best, and Granville said this would be a focal point of the team’s success this season.

“We’ve got that forward pack that can really create that ruck speed, so I’m excited to get out of dummy-half and create some opportunities if I get the chance,” he said.

“Every game is different, it depends on who you’re playing, but that’s the main role of any team – they want that ruck speed and free flowing footy.”