Canberra skipper Clinton Schifcofske expects field goal hero Todd Carney to elevate his game to another level after the Raiders stole a heart-stopping 15-14 golden point win over North Queensland.

Carney slotted home the winner - from just under 40m out - with 3 minutes 16 seconds left in extra time to inflict an early dose of post-Origin blues on the Cowboys.

It was North Queensland's fourth loss in five games and continued Canberra's golden run at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Carney, an exciting prospect who turns 20 next week, showed the poise of a veteran in steering the ball between the uprights with the Cowboys' host of Origin stars out on their feet.

Schifcofske expects the game-winning field goal to help Carney reach the next level.

"I think (the field goal) will be the catalyst for Todd to really become a dominant force for the club," he said.

Schifcofske, who was standing on the other side of the ruck, said he hoped Carney was going to be the one to receive the ball having spent up most of his energy during the previous 87 minutes.

"I had my head up my backside I was that tired," he said.

The loss is certain to trigger alarm bells within the Cowboys' camp with four players backing up from a gruelling Origin series opener and Luke O'Donnell set to miss the next six weeks with a broken thumb.

An MRI scan on Friday confirmed the worst possible news for O'Donnell, who lasted just six minutes on debut for NSW.

He will be in a plaster cast for the next three weeks and a return date will only be known after that.

If the result is any indication, the State of Origin period - like for Brisbane in the past - could present a torrid time for North Queensland.

O'Donnell and fellow injured Cowboys star Ty Williams watched on from the sidelines as the Raiders took a 12-8 halftime lead courtesy of tries to David Howell and Phil Graham.

But the margin could have been greater for the visitors if Marshall Chalk hadn't spilled a pass from Howell with 90 seconds remaining and the try-line open.

A penalty goal by Schifcofske extended the gap to 14-8 before a piece of brilliance from Johnathan Thurston levelled the scores.

Backing up a break made by Brenton Bowen, Thurston wrong-footed Schifcofske and a desperate lunge at the corner set up yet another thrilling side-line conversion for the cool-headed 23-year-old.

Like he did for Queensland on Wednesday, Thurston nailed it in the 62nd minute to level the scores and provide the thrilling finish.

North Queensland coach Graham Murray, also the NSW coach, said he couldn't fault his team's commitment but remained disappointed with the result.

The Cowboys had a chance to notch up the win in regulation but a Matt Bowen field goal from 10m out was plucked out of mid-air by Chalk.

Bowen showed little signs of an Origin hangover to press his claims further for retention in the return match in Brisbane on June 14.

Maroons enforcer Carl Webb was also back to his best with several bullocking runs.

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