North Queensland remain firmly entrenched in the NRL top four after holding out the previously in-form New Zealand Warriors 18-12 in a lacklustre match in Townsville.

But the win may have come at a cost, with Queensland Origin hero and playmaker Johnathan Thurston leaving the field early in the second half with a hip flexor injury.

Looking troubled throughout the match, Thurston handed over goalkicking duties to Ashley Graham after forward Sione Faumuina scored a brilliant match-sealing solo try seven minutes after halftime.

The Cowboys captain, who earlier spent periods in the first half defending on the wing, left the game for treatment minutes later, returning to the Cowboys bench for the remainder of the contest.

Coming off the bye and with Thurston, forward Carl Webb and fullback Matt Bowen returning from Queensland's successful State of Origin defence, the Cowboys led 18-0 after 47 minutes and looked set for a comfortable win against a fumble-prone opposition.

But tries to Warriors wingers Patrick Ah Van (62nd minute) and Manu Vatuvei (74th) sent a scare through Dairy Farmers Stadium, as the Cowboys repelled several late Warriors raids to clinch their 10th win of the season.

Earlier, the Cowboys made the most of poor Warriors ball control to post a 12-0 halftime lead, with tries to Graham and Webb, his first for the season.

The loss breaks a three-game winning streak for the Warriors (7-9 win-loss), who have had an extended stay in Queensland, opting to remain in the country instead of flying home after last weekend's game on the Gold Coast against the Titans.

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