North Queensland players paid tribute to Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer following his record-breaking 350th NRL game.

Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen said it had been an honour to play beside Lockyer at representative level and called him one of the greats of the game.

"Obviously to be a part of that game, and it was a privilege to play Origin and tests with him," Bowen said.

"He's one of the greats of rugby league and congrats to him."

The Cowboys fullback said Lockyer's gracious temperament made him more of a legend of the game.

"Locky's one of those blokes who will lap it up now but then it's all gone.

"I went up to him and shook his hand after the game and congratulated him on a good career and obviously I love watching him play."

Lockyer's presence in Townsville drew a crowd of 26,463 and the occasion was not lost on centre Willie Tonga, who missed playing in the Broncos playmaker's Origin swansong in June through a shoulder injury.

Tonga said he was happy he could be involved in another of the Broncos star's milestone games.

"Even though it wasn't the result we wanted it was just awesome to be involved in a game like this," he said.

Tonga said the Cowboys had been sheltered from the hype in the lead-up to the game, but it would be the biggest moment of some of the younger players' careers.

"A lot of the new boys didn't know what to expect and even I haven't played in front a crowd like that up here, I was really looking forward to it."

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