After missing the finals since 2017, the Cowboys face the Roosters, Warriors, South Sydney and Penrith to try to lock up a top two finish and two home finals come September.

Facing a Bulldogs side hunting a third straight win under interim coach Mick Potter, they were tested for nearly the duration of the contest before running away with the result late on in sub-tropical Queensland.

Canterbury led 14-12 when Jacob Kiraz soared above Scott Drinkwater to set up Kyle Flanagan early in the second half, firing back after Valentine Holmes kicked a penalty goal to edge them in front, but North Queensland's forwards then came to the fore.

Powering through the middle with the wind at their backs, Jason Taumalolo, Luciano Leilua and Reuben Cotter sucked two, three and sometimes four tacklers into the ruck to open up space for their edges.

A double to Drinkwater and a first in Cowboys colours to Leilua in a 10 minute span sealed a solid performance from Todd Payten's side as they registered their 15th win of the season.

While Drinkwater was in stellar form again it was the interchange forwards who did the damage, with Cotter and Leilua running for 160 and 132 metres respectively and Griffin Neame scoring their first.

"We got what we needed to get done," Payten said after the win.

"We came down here to get the two points playing against a team high on confidence ... so to get on the plane and go home with two points in our kit bag, we're very happy."

Holmes put the kick-off to start the match out on the full, and Canterbury's first attacking set was a success when Matt Burton grubbered to Josh Addo-Carr, who gathered ahead of a hesitant Peta Hiku to open their account.

The Bulldogs then defended their line valiantly as North Queensland took control, before a Taumalolo error gifted the Bulldogs another attacking set. This time, from a middle scrum, Burton got on the outside shoulder of Hiku to score their second in 20 minutes.

But an Addo-Carr penalty and some weak middle resistance from the Bulldogs got the Cowboys rolling and Neame cracked Canterbury's defences in the 30th minute.

He charged on to a quick play-the-ball for his second try in as many weeks before his side struck again when Chad Townsend and Leilua combined for the former to score his first try of the season.

North Queensland enjoyed the better territory, possession and run metres in the first half, all with the wind in their face.

They attempted a field goal to take a slender lead into the sheds but Townsend missed to the left, leaving it 10-all at the break.

Australian Associated Press