Gold Coast Titans captain Scott Prince landed an early blow against Johnathan Thurston in the race for the Queensland halfback spot but coach John Cartwright believes his skipper will once again be overlooked.

Prince was solid in the Titans' 14-10 victory over North Queensland, guiding the Gold Coast to their fourth win of the season.

Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston scored a try and kicked a sideline conversion but he has struggled to ignite his side's attack, the Cowboys slumping to just one win from five attempts.

But the Titans' impressive early season form and Prince's reputation as a big game player will count for little at the Queensland Origin selection table according to Cartwright.

The coach believes the Maroons' brains trust will stay loyal to the players - including Australian Test halfback Thurston - who have carried Queensland to three straight series victories.

"We go through this every year Queensland and Princey knows it they are not going to make any changes unless they get an injury," Cartwright said.

"They stick with the guys that have done it. Whether that is right or wrong that is not for us to decide. All he can do is just keep doing what he is doing.

"When his opportunity arises and it generally does they have got no hesitation of putting him in.

"It is something that Queensland have been doing since Origin began."

Cartwright said it was difficult to gauge Prince's performance, his game stifled by the wet conditions and mountain of possession the Cowboys controlled in the second half.

"It is very difficult to judge him tonight because the momentum tonight was all with them (Cowboys). If we had the momentum for the majority of the game that they did, especially in that second half, I would of backed us to put a lot more points on."

The Titans other pocket dynamo, Preston Campbell, again impressed his coach with his ability to bring down much bigger opponents.

"He is just that X-factor, not only with the ball but his kicking game as well. He helps Princey out with his kicking game.

"Just his defence, big fellows kept going at him on our line and he just puts his head on the line and it is hard to put into words how courageous he is.

"It is just body on the line simple as that. He knows where he is limited and he knows what he has to do to pull somebody down."

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