JOHNATHAN Thurston’s heroics were not enough to rescue the Cowboys as North Queensland edged closer to the wooden spoon in a heartbreaking 26-20 loss to the Roosters.

Thurston was at his mercurial best at Allianz Stadium as the Cowboys fought back from a 26-8 deficit to fall agonisingly short of a huge upset against the NRL premiership heavyweights.

In his 319th NRL game, Thurston produced a trademark show-and-go as the Cowboys mounted a late comeback in a thrilling contest.

But North Queensland ultimately fell to their 15th loss of the year and plunged closer towards the dreaded wooden spoon after starting the season as premiership favourites.

Parramatta’s win against the Gold Coast Titans last night drew the Eels level with Manly and North Queensland on 12 competition points.

Only points difference is separating the NRL’s cellar dwellers with the Sea Eagles (-93), Cowboys (-106) and Eels (-124) set to fight out for the dreaded wooden spoon in the final four rounds.

The Cowboys have shown some promising signs in recent weeks and can put a dagger into Brisbane’s finals campaign in Thursday’s derby at 1300SMILES Stadium.

Incredibly, following a season of terrible football, the Cowboys were near faultless with the ball, completing 33 of 34 sets and not making an error until the 75th minute.

But their perfection ultimately counted for little as North Queensland slumped to its sixth loss in its past seven games.

“We got ourselves back in the game but it’s been the story of our season, we haven’t been able to ice the game,” Thurston said.

“We showed a lot of character to get back in the game but it was too little too late.

“I’m proud of the boys. Every week they turn up and do what’s asked of them and that’s all we can ask of each other.

“We were close but not close enough.”

The NRL’s form centre, Latrell Mitchell, continued his hot streak when he crossed untouched after 12 minutes before the Cowboys resorted to their bizarre tactic of kicking penalty goes when trailing.

North Queensland momentarily took the lead when bulldozing lock Jason Taumalolo turned Roosters fullback James Tedesco into a human speed bump.

But a sensational try to Joseph Manu edged Sydney ahead before two penalty goals to Mitchell gave the Roosters a 16-8 lead at the break.

The Cowboys’ penalty goal theory failed again when Roosters wingers Blake Ferguson and Daniel Tupou bumped Sydney out to a 26-8 buffer which appeared to end the game.

But the 35-year-old Thurston showed he still possesses some magic when he scored his third try of the season with a trademark show-and-go before Gavin Cooper got the Cowboys within striking distance.

But it was Cooper Cronk’s Roosters which tasted success in the final showdown between Thurston and his former Maroons and Kangaroos playmaking partner.

Fulltime SYDNEY ROOSTERS 26 (B Ferguson J Manu L Mitchell D Tupou tries L Mitchell 5 goals) bt NORTH QUEENSLAND 20 (G Cooper J Taumalolo J Thurston tries J Thurston 4 goals) at Allianz Stadium. Referee: Alan Shortall, Adam Gee. Crowd: 9,721.