Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart reopened old wounds with North Queensland rival Graham Murray when he claimed the Cowboys should've beaten the premiers by 20 points at Aussie Stadium.

A flat Roosters outfit dragged itself over the line to pip the Cowboys 15-14 in an enthralling National Rugby League clash on Sunday.

Stuart reckoned his side, with five players backing up from Wednesday night's opening State of Origin game, was there for the taking.

"They should have beaten us by 20 points today," said Stuart. "We were very flat, we were well off our game."

Murray bristled at Stuart's comments.

"That's nice of him," Murray said. "They had 17 out there."

Stuart has not been on Murray's Christmas card list since Murray was sacked from the Roosters at the end of 2001 and replaced by the former Test halfback.

Murray argued against the Roosters' gang-tackling style at a coaches' conference earlier this year and is known to be interested in the NSW State of Origin coaching job when Phil Gould steps down.

Roosters director of coaching Gould, a close friend of Stuart, is expected to resign at the end of this Origin series.

Sunday's victory meant the Roosters leap-frogged Penrith into third spot on the NRL table while the Cowboys are hovering just outside the top eight.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP