Cheeky texts to North Queensland pivot Travis Burns have been coming in thick and fast from former Manly teammates.

But Burns reckons it will be the Cowboys who will send a clear message to the NRL against the Sea Eagles at Townsville on Saturday night.

Burns doesn't have to be reminded that he will be lining up against his former club at Dairy Farmers Stadium thanks to his not so subtle Manly chums.

"I think everyone who leaves a club looks forward to playing them again - and the boys have been ribbing me with a few texts this week," Burns said on Thursday.

"Glenny Stewart always likes to throw in the odd text - I am looking forward to it."

But Burns is adamant he will have the last laugh with the Cowboys.

One win doesn't make a season - but Burns sounded like North Queensland had turned around theirs with a last round victory, albeit against the lowly Sharks at Adelaide.

However, they did show sparks of the Cowboys of old as Johnathan Thurston orchestrated the 34-10 drubbing.

After being 1-4, the Cowboys are now just two points outside the top eight thanks to the six tries to two victory in South Australia.

And Burns warned a rejuvenated North Queensland were primed for a winning run, starting with the Brett Stewart-less Manly at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

"We knew the win was coming, we weren't far off the mark," he said on Thursday.

"We are improving every week, if we can stick to that we are going to win a lot more than we are going to lose."

Initially maligned for adopting coach Neil Henry's "quality not quantity approach", Thurston is starting to show ominous form.

"JT's on the improve. He's not far from his best," Burns warned.

And thanks to Burns, the Cowboys appear to have what they have craved for so long - a form halves combination.

"We didn't play too many games (together) last year and it was just a matter of time (that they clicked)," Burns said of Thurston.

"We are starting to gel a bit more on the field, we are starting to mix it up."

Burns admitted he had mixed feelings as Manly held aloft the NRL premiership trophy last year.

"It wasn't tough to take. I was happy for the boys," he said.

"I was there four years. I have got friendships there that will last a lifetime.

"But it was disappointing the year that we had (Cowboys second last) and the club that I left won a premiership - it was disappointing in that regard."

Manly are still reeling after losing controversial fullback Brett Stewart (knee) for up to three months.

"With or without Brett Stewart they are a dangerous side," Burns said.

"And they are in the same boat as us. They have only won a couple and need to win again.

"And without Brett Stewart they are going to be fired up - our forward pack has got to stand up again."

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