Former NSW State of Origin and NRL premiership winning coach Phil Gould is considering taking up a coaching role with North Queensland.

Gould told the Nine Network on Monday night he'd had discussions with the struggling Cowboys, who finished second last in the NRL this season.

"The short answer is I have been approached, yes," Gould said.

"I've had a meeting with the chairman Laurence Lancini and the football manager Peter Parr, mainly as part of their review of this season.

"I went down to Canberra on Friday before the Canberra game (semi-final against West Tigers) and met with (coach) Neil (Henry) for a couple of hours, we had a good chat.

"I've spoken to him (Henry) again today. When the grand final is over I'll fly to Townsville, sit down with management and Neil Henry and if we can see a pathway forward and there is something I can help them with ..."

It was not clear whether the position would see Gould in a director of coaching style role above Henry or something more ad hoc.

Gould added he wanted to see how the players interacted with the coach before he made up his mind about any job with the Cowboys.

The Cowboys have struggled in recent seasons, only finishing above Melbourne Storm - who had all their points deducted for salary cap breaches - in 2010 while failing to make the finals in 2008 and 2009.

Gould's last fulltime head coaching role with an NRL team was with the Sydney City Roosters in 1999.

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