Tough talking ex-Test prop Greg Dowling says North Queensland enforcer Carl Webb will only answer his critics if he backs up from last round's blinder.

The former Queensland hardman unwittingly began a war of words with Webb by criticising the Cowboys forward's lacklustre NRL season start in his weekly newspaper column.

Webb abused Dowling on the phone then hung up on him after reading one column.

The next week Dowling dared Webb to lift and the Cowboys prop responded on the field by tearing Parramatta apart last weekend.

Dowling's words were obviously still ringing in the Cowboys' ears - North Queensland's Luke O'Donnell said after the 38-14 win that Webb had "answered a few critics".

While happy about Webb's form resurgence, Dowling said the big man had proved nothing.

"He might be thinking `I showed that broken down footballer' but let's wait and see if he can put it together for four or five games - the jury is out," Dowling said.

"They got the shits and nothing was going to stop them (against Eels).

"But hopefully now they don't rest on their laurels - one game doesn't make a season."

Dowling said it was sad that it took his blast to get Webb fired up.

"I'm not taking credit for anything. He can take credit because he pulled his bloody finger out and had a go," he said.

"I hate saying these things, but it's how we handle criticism that separates guys.

"If he goes forward the team will follow and that's the sad part about it, unfortunately guys like me have to bring it to their attention."

Dowling reiterated that he was Webb's biggest fan and even rattled off the Cowboys prop's impressive stats against Parramatta without prompting.

"Seven hit-ups, 164 metres, 12 tackles and one try - he's played a blinder," he said.

"I was rapt with his game. I love the way he plays, but unfortunately it's too far between great games.

"They've won and all of a sudden he's back in rep calculations, but the way he was playing beforehand he was flat out making the Cowboys side."

Dowling said another stirring display against the Dragons at Wollongong Saturday would go a long way to proving the doubters wrong.

"They've got a danger game against St George. This is where they've got to back it up," he said.

"It's not rocket science, they weren't going forward, that's what was wrong with them.

"They were trying to blame it on everything else like new coaches and everything else.

"I've been through it all before when you struggle and struggle and suddenly you put in a blinder and you are in form again - hopefully they find it easier from here on in."

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