North Queensland will ask the National Rugby League to examine a goal which it believes shouldn't have been awarded during the Cowboys' two-point loss to Parramatta on Saturday night.

The Eels won 24-22 after referee Rod Lawrence awarded a goal to Parramatta when one touch judge indicated it didn't go over.

Cowboys coach Graham Murray said it would be "very, very upsetting" if it turned out the goal shouldn't have been awarded.

"I thought it missed, like most other people in Australia," Murray said.

The Cowboys blew a 16-point lead with 11 minutes remaining at Parramatta Stadium but television replays suggested a conversion by Parramatta halfback Michael Witt should not have been awarded because it appeared to go outside the uprights.

The touch judges - Allen Foster and Alan Fallah - were split, with one raising his flag and the other keeping his down.

Lawrence awarded the goal, making the score 22-12 and the Eels scored another two tries to set up a stunning win which kept their season alive.

Murray, who watched a replay of the goal, said the Cowboys would send a letter to the NRL seeking clarification on whether it should have been awarded.

"We will formulate a letter to the NRL to (referees boss) Robert Finch or (chief executive) David Gallop and just ask for clarification ... whether it was a correct ruling.

"There was one (flag) up and one down. The bloke that was on that post, he was the one that indicated no goal. That makes it a bit intriguing.

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