The smile on the face of rookie Penrith coach Steve Georgallis said it all after his side's 30-20 win over North Queensland in Sunday's NRL clash at Centrebet Stadium.

Just last week, Georgallis was pondering a move to England to take up an assistant coaching role in the Super League, before Panthers' general manager Phil Gould offered him an 11-game audition for the position after Matt Elliott was relieved of his duties on Monday.

"It was a very hard last 10 minutes but it was just a massive rap for the way the players played for their jersey today," Georgallis said.

"You talk about playing for each other and the bond that you have when you play team sport and it just showed in that last 10 or 15 minutes.

"We had a few injuries and a few players that had to play longer minutes than what they're used to and they did it today. I'm just rapt. I'm really, really happy."

"It's like making your first-grade debut as a player and winning. All that hard work that you put in, and when it comes to fruition, it's a relief but it also just makes you really, really happy."

Georgallis' hopes of being appointed permanently were boosted by the outstanding performances of his two big guns, Luke Lewis and Petero Civoniceva.

The pair scored and set up tries, with Civoniceva producing an outrageous left step to leave Dallas Johnson and Aaron Payne for dead as he rumbled his way under the posts in the first half.

Civoniceva's Queensland front-row partner and Cowboys' skipper Matt Scott was full of praise for the Penrith captain and said he was not surprised to see the veteran front-rower show such nimble footwork.

"He played well. It was a good captain's knock, but that is what you get from Petero. You know he is going to do it, but there was a lack of focus and silly mistakes in our line," Scott said.

"He pulls it out more than you think, big Bulla. He's pretty sharp ... he's a quality player."

Civoniceva dedicated his try to the front-rowers' club and praised the way Georgallis had prepared the side for the game.

"There was a sprinkler head that I tripped over (with my) size 13 feet!" Civoniceva said.

"I think someone called touch on the way through. But it's pretty rare for us front-rowers to get across so I was happy for myself to get one for those old front-rowers and battlers out there that never had much glory.

"Georgie (Georgallis) had a great structure and, in order for that to work, we had to make sure that our yardage game up the middle was really strong, so I think full credit to the forwards today."

The Cowboys remain in the top four despite the defeat, but coach Neil Henry said his side's performance was the worst since losing to Newcastle at home in round two.

He also claimed having Johnathan Thurston in Sydney successfully defending a contrary conduct charge, after running into referee Matt Cecchin, had affected preparations.

"It was a disruption as with the volcanic ash. He was away for two-and-half days and the disruption was that it was hard for him to get treatment on his ankle while he was away," Henry said.

"When you conduct ballwork sessions without your playmaker, it is tough but that is no excuse for how we played today."

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