A physically and mentally drained Johnathan Thurston has vowed to shake off the frustration of North Queensland's 24-20 loss to Manly on Saturday night as the club's finals hopes hit crisis point.

The Cowboys skipper vented his frustration at referee Jason Robinson in the final stages of the game following a controversial call from the far touch judge that a Will Tupou pass had gone forward to Willie Tonga.

Robinson, co-referee Alan Shortall and the near touch judge had all allowed play to go on.

That call and another where Luke O'Donnell was denied four points because Matt Bowen was ruled to have knocked on in the lead-up had Thurston seething.

Clearly drained following the loss - which left the Cowboys sitting 14th with three wins and eight losses - Thurston is searching for ways to stay motivated after a busy week where he led Queensland to victory in his man-of-the-match turn in Origin I.

He said despite the side's poor run in 2010, he was confident the club could find a way to turn things around despite the representative season being in full swing.

"It's a tough period for the club with representative footy around," Thurston said.

"But I've got self-belief in the coaching staff and the players that we can turn this around.

"It takes a bit out of you but I'll turn up again, there's one again next week.

Thurston fumed about the officiating this season, saying errors had cost the Cowboys wins in the last two games.

"I don't know how three officials closest to the ball say play on and the furthest touch judge calls forward pass," he said.

"Some of the calls we're getting, geez.

"When you're not winning games they seem to go against you."

But Thurston admitted it was up to him and the players to move on from those disappointments and restore some kind of order to an already flagging Cowboys season.

"We've just got work hard, that's what we've been doing," he said.

"We just need a couple of those 50/50 calls go our way and we get the two points.

"I think the finals are that far away.

"For us it's just preparing each week and not looking too far ahead.

"We've just got to concentrate on a week-to-week basis.

"This game's done and dusted and we'll review that on Monday and we'll prepare for Souths.

"That's as far as we'll be looking."

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