WHAT YOUR NRL CLUB NEED TO FIX IN 2019 PRE-SEASON:-

* BRISBANE:

Consistency is key for the Broncos. They won eight of 12 games against top-eight teams in the regular season, but had a worse-off record against the bottom-eight sides. Their young pack stepped up when required but still had games where they conceded too many metres.

* CANBERRA

Ricky Stuart must solve the late-match capitulations. Canberra lost six matches in 2018 that they led headed into the final 10 minutes, including each of the first three rounds. They also came from behind twice, but it dramatically stunted their finals hopes.

* CANTERBURY:

Cementing their attack will be the focus as Keiran Foran returns. Canterbury won just three from 12 games with him last year. Lachlan Lewis had them firing in the final rounds but they still ranked in the bottom two for tries, linebreaks and red-zone attack.

* CRONULLA

Need to find their discipline fast. Poor completion rates tormented coach Shane Flanagan all season as they ranked 14th for the category and also averaged the 11th most penalties, with Andrew Fifita the NRL's worst offender.

* GOLD COAST

Goal-line defence is the must-fix item. Garth Brennan's men had the worst 20-metre zone defence of any team in the competition in 2018, compounded by the fact they regularly gave up field position with the most linebreaks conceded and worst completion rates.

* MANLY

Desperately need to find some resilience under Des Hasler. No team suffered from momentum shifts like Manly in 2018. While they were dangerous when their attack got rolling, they had the worst defensive record in the competition. Some forward depth for when Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake go off could help.

* MELBOURNE

Not a lot to fix for the Storm, but nailing down a consistent halfback for 2019 will help improve their kicking game. Brodie Croft looks the man with Jahrome Hughes bound for the No.1 jersey and Ryley Jacks departing. They are ranked in the bottom half of the competition for kick metres and forced dropouts.

* NEWCASTLE

Nathan Brown is desperate to find a way to throw enough support around Mitchell Pearce so they aren't as reliant on the halfback. His injury ended their finals hopes in 2018 as they won just two of nine matches without him as their ability to control possession suffered.

* NORTH QUEENSLAND

Finding ways to inject Ben Barba will be crucial. While they struggled for attacking spark in 2018, their new No.1 had 52 try involvements in 23 games for St Helens in the English Super League this year.

* PARRAMATTA

Must figure out their halves combination. Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman have both been linked elsewhere, but if they remain together they must find a way to fix the worst attack of 2019. Averaged a competition high 16 play-the-balls inside the opposition 20-metre zone for each try.

* PENRITH

Regardless of whether it's Cameron Ciraldo or Ivan Cleary, Penrith's coach must address slow starts. The Panthers trailed by a combined 402-358 in the first 60 minutes of matches in 2018, before winning the final 20 minutes by 206-92. Not one of their late comebacks was against a top-eight team.

* SOUTH SYDNEY

Didn't do much wrong in 2018 but their efforts to diffuse kicks could be one area of focus. Souths conceded the sixth most tries off the boot and only had one in-goal escape all season as they came from the blue to be a serious premiership contender.

* ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

Must find a new way to avoid the late-season fade out after their third in four years. Part of that will be having their forwards return to the direct-running style that troubled opponents early in 2018, before they played too lateral and didn't control possession during the form slump.

* SYDNEY ROOSTERS

It's crucial the Roosters don't let their intensity slip in the 2019 pre-season. After a slow start the premiers were clinical in the run to the finals, but there's a reason why no team has won back-to-back titles in 25 years.

* WARRIORS

Must find a way to attack on both sides of the ruck. While their right side with Shaun Johnson and David Fusitu'a was the most potent in the competition with 41 tries, their middle ranked 15th with 15 tries and their left last, with 24.

* WESTS TIGERS

Need to find some points in 2019. While their defence was able to grind them to plenty of wins early, 2018 ended as their worst attacking year in the joint-venture's history. Fullback Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah's first pre-season together with the spine could help.

Stats: Fox Sports Stats