Replacement five-eighth Joel Reynolds ensured Canterbury's NRL finals hopes stayed alive for at least one more round, producing the big plays in their gritty 14-6 win over North Queensland at ANZ Stadium on Friday.

It was effectively a must-win game for the Bulldogs, who entered the round in tenth spot, four points outside the eight.

Reynolds, who came in at five-eighth for Ben Roberts (corked leg), scored his side's sole first-half try and set up their second, which lifted the Bulldogs to a 14-0 second-half lead.

The Cowboys, who started the game in third spot, ten points clear of the Bulldogs, lacked their traditional pizazz for much of the game.

They came close to scoring a couple of times in the first 20 minutes and Will Tupou had a 67th-minute try scrubbed for a double movement.

Brent Tate dragged the lacklustre Cowboys back into the contest with a 70th-minute try set up by a good pass from five-eighth Ray Thompson.

Matt Bowen's conversion got the Cowboys back to within eight points, but despite some late pressure they couldn't cross the Bulldogs line again.

The match featured some rib-rattling hits, particularly from Bulldogs hitman Frank Pritchard.

Together with Joel Romelo he lifted up Tariq Sims inside the first five minutes, with Romelo placed on report for his involvement.

A second Bulldog, prop Sam Kasiano, was also put on report for kneeing Sims in the second half.

Reynolds squeezed between two players from dummy half in the 25th minute to score his third try of the season.

Winger Steve Turner's conversion hit the post and bounced away, but he kicked a 40th-minute penalty goal to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 halftime advantage.

Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba had a try go begging after a ball hit the post late in the first half and recalled centre Josh Morris had another potential four-pointer rubbed out for losing the ball over the Cowboys line in the 45th minute.

It wasn't costly as shortly after Reynolds broke the line and combined with halfback Trent Hodkinson to send Turner clear in the 48th minute.

Turner's conversion and 57th-minute penalty goal blew the Bulldogs buffer out to 14 points.

Bulldogs caretaker coach Jim Dymock revealed the club had plenty to play for.

Captain Andrew Ryan announced on Monday he was retiring at the end of the season while Wright lost his older brother Thomas to a heart attack a few days before the game.

"I thought he played well, an excellent game from him under the circumstances considering his brother passing away," Dymock said of Wright.

"There was a lot to play for tonight, Bobcat (Ryan) Jono Wright and also our whole season was on the line.

"I said to the boys before the game it's probably like a grand final for us.

"If we keep winning we've got our own destiny in our hands instead of relying on other teams winning and losing."

Cowboys coach Neil Henry said the Bulldogs showed more urgency and commitment than his team in a performance his side will need to quickly forget.

"We lacked intensity, they out-enthused us, they were a bit more physical than us," Henry said.

"We've got a fairly dejected player group in there.

"We talked about how we needed to be enthusiastic tonight and we weren't able to do it."

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