North Queensland's horror form slump continued on Sunday when the Bulldogs notched a 20-12 victory over the hapless Cowboys in the NRL clash at Carrara Stadium.

The Cowboys have now lost seven out of their past eight matches after dominating the early rounds of the competition.

To compound their misery, fullback Matt Bowen left the field in the 75th minute with a right ankle injury as his chances of a State of Origin recall for Queensland seemingly went up in smoke.

The Bulldogs will be happy to get the two points in their "home game" played in front of 16,231 people but it has come at a cost.

New Zealand winger Matt Utai, playing his 100th first grade game, looks to be in big trouble after referee Shayne Hayne placed him on report for a lifting tackle on Matt Sing.

His teammate Hazem El Masri was also reported - for a 49th minute high shot on North Queensland five-eighth Thurston - but that incident was not nearly as bad.

It was always going to be a battle of attrition with both teams having three players backing up from Origin II in Brisbane on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs led 8-6 at halftime before the Cowboys hit the front through a try to winger Brenton Bowen, who intercepted a Brent Sherwin pass and raced 95m to score under the posts.

Thurston converted to give his team a 12-8 advantage before the 'Dogs hit back with two tries in the space of four minutes.

El Masri caught a Sherwin cross-field kick and went across field before putting the looping halfback through a hole in the 64th minute.

Matt Bowen tried to pop a pass on a kick-return but the loose ball was swooped up by Daniel Holdsworth, who fed it onto Tony Grimaldi for an easy try in the 68th minute.

The Cowboys lost interchange back Ashley Graham with a suspected dislocated knee in 15th minute.

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