Brisbane extinguished North Queensland's finals hopes and solidified their place in the NRL top eight with a 16-10 victory in Townsville on Friday night.

Broncos star Israel Folau scored a try in his comeback match from injury as Brisbane came up on top in a three-tries-to-two victory to move into fourth spot on the ladder.

In a high quality hitout with finals aspirations for both sides in the balance, the Queensland rivals didn't disappoint the crowd of 24,332 with an enthralling local derby.

Brisbane flyer Jharal Yow Yeh scored the match winner in the 60th minute with a spectacular 65 metre run, fielding a clearing kick in his own half, to put the Broncos in front for the first time in the match.

The all-Queensland centre battle between Justin Hodges and Willie Tonga was an epic and the Cowboy took the early bragging rights after taking an intercept off Darren Lockyer to set up an early 6-0 lead.

Brisbane were quick to counter and Folau scored - only to see the home side score five minutes before the break when Luke O'Donnell cleaned up a Grant Rovelli bomb for a 10-4 lead at halftime.

Broncos centre Alex Glenn scored in the 55th minute with Corey Parker kicking the conversion.

Cowboys five-eighth Grant Rovelli twisted his ankle while prop James Tamou was placed on report for a high shot on Lagi Setu in the 55th minute.

Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak admitted Thurston's attempt to snatch victory had sent a few flutters through the Broncos coaching box.

"It was heart-stopping there at the end, that's for sure," he said.

"She was a tight game, a lot at stake for both teams and the closeness of it reflected that."

But Henjak couldn't have been prouder of his side's effort and commitment against a desperate Cowboys looking to sneak into the finals.

"I was just as pleased and proud of them as I was last Friday (a 12-2 win over ladder leaders St George Illawarra)," he said.

"The discipline and the execution probably wasn't there from last Friday but certainly the courage and the effort was outstanding I thought tonight."

North Queensland coach Neil Henry described Yow Yeh's stunning effort as the final sword in the Cowboys' inconsistent season.

"It certainly knocked the wind out of our sails a little bit because we had defended really well," he said.

North Queensland's failure to make the finals a second year running was already beginning to hit home.

"Fairly gutted, that's the words used I suppose (with) the realisation now the season is done and dusted, Henry said.

"Overall the 17 (players) and the coaching staff are very disappointed men sitting in that change room."

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