The silence in the North Queensland winning dressing room on Saturday night spoke volumes about the rejuvenated Cowboys.

There was deep satisfaction at having notched back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly two years - stretching back 41 starts.

Yet there was also an unmistakable feeling of discontent over a poor second half showing in their eight-point win over Canberra.

But in the school of hard knocks that is the NRL, Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott is only too happy to be a winning, albeit roughed up, student.

Having led 24-6 at half-time at Dairy Farmers Stadium, the stubborn Raiders were allowed back into the contest by an over zealous and error-prone North Queensland.

"We sort of came into the shed a bit quiet again, we knew we are better than that...we have more in us," Scott said.

"I thought at the start of the second half, not completing two or three sets in a row you can't do that against any team in this competition.

"The boys are pleased to get the win but know we've got work ahead of us, and that's a good attitude to have."

It is an attitude that triggered a ground shift in the ranks of the Townsville-based club which has strung together three straight home wins.

"Last year we would have managed to lose that game, definitely," Scott said.

"This year we are managing to win them, the good thing is that the boys are disappointed and know we have improvement in us."

Scott likes to think that success breeds success, but is aware that his side will only continue to improve as long as they strive to make up for their shortcomings.

"We are learning, I think," Scott said.

"We have a bit of confidence, we have gained that from a couple of victories, but there is definitely a sombre mood from the second-half and that will be on the boys' minds all week.

"Our problem has been getting ahead of ourselves, it happened in our round one win against the Broncos and then the Knights taught usa few things up here, and we are maybe getting a bit too ahead of ourselves after good first half performances."

Having added to Canberra's woes and getting the better of a downcast Gold Coast side a week earlier The Cowboys have notched up invaluable competition points.

But Scott said the side's true identity will be emerge on the road when they meet Cronulla this week.

"We have played a couple of sides that aren't playing their best footy at this time of year and we are letting those side back in the game late, which is a bit problem," he said.

"When we come against a high quality side, an in-form side, then we are going to have to do a lot better.

"The Sharks are starting to hit really good form and will be a really good test for us.

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