North Queensland coach Graham Murray never lost faith.

But then again why would he when he has two of the NRL's greatest match-winners in his side.

Cowboys stars Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen orchestrated one of the club's greatest comebacks when North Queensland scored three tries in the final eight minutes to steal a remarkable 30-26 golden-point win over Penrith at CUA Stadium.

Centre Ashley Graham claimed his third try of the night - and 15th in 18 games - in the fifth minute of extra time as the Cowboys cemented their place in the top four and ended their 2007 Sydney hoodoo with their first win in five trips to the harbour city this year.

It did come at a cost, with Steve Southern suffering a shoulder injury and fellow backrower Sione Faumuina expected to face a suspension for a vicious high tackle on Penrith hooker Luke Priddis.

But the fact the Cowboys got home after trailing 26-16 with less than five minutes to play showed just how dangerous Murray's team will be come next month's finals.

"We just kept the faith and when you've players like JT and Matty you know that something can be pulled out," Murray said.

"You know you're always in the contest, even when you're behind.

"You don't just want to just reflect on those two guys, but they are that brilliant."

The Cowboys looked set to take a shot at field goal late in the first period of extra time, but instead Thurston went the blind side, causing an overlap for Graham to score the matchwinner.

"I think (the Panthers) all went to the left (expecting a field goal) and I just called over to (Aaron) Payne and it was a simple three on two and that got us the points," Thurston said.

Penrith looked to have the game sewn up after centre Michael Jennings scored his second runaway try of the match for a 10-point lead in the 72nd minute.

But Justin Smith's try in the 76th gave the Cowboys a sniff, before Graham finished off a Bowen break - set up by Thurston - in the 78th to send the third game this round into extra-time.

The loss virtually assures Penrith of the wooden spoon, although coach Matt Elliott said he could not be critical of his side's effort.

Faumuina was lucky to stay on the field after his high shot on Priddis in the 41st minute.

He was placed on report by referee Jared Maxwell with a groggy Priddis spending the next 10 minutes off the field.

Penrith stopped short of saying Faumuina should have been sent off, but captain Penrith Craig Gower re-ignited the debate of using the 10-minute sin bin for such incidents.

"Luke Priddis had to go off the ground, so why shouldn't he," Gower said.

"The bloke got hit around the head ... it's his decision (not to send him off), but we had a player leave the ground in a key role.

"Why do we have 10 minutes if we aren't going to use it."

The high shot was one of several incidents in a spiteful match expected to come under scrutiny by the match review committee on Tuesday.

They included an altercation between Priddis and Smith in which the Panthers rake was accused of using a forearm to free himself from a tackle and which prompted an all-in melee, as well as another high shot from Smith on Penrith's Maurice Blair.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP