The Cowboys will head into their first bye of the year on a high after a fast start set them up for a 34-16 win over the Raiders in Canberra on Friday night.
A season-best defensive effort headlined a dominant first half in which they ran in four unanswered tries, with the result lifting North Queensland to 16 competition points ahead of their week off.
Maroons forward Reuben Cotter and Kiwi big man Griffin Neame led the way as Todd Payten's men got the better of a representative-laden Raiders pack, while halves Tom Dearden and Chad Townsend pulled the strings beautifully when chances presented.