A late Coen Hess try struck a huge blow to Brisbane Broncos' top-four hopes as North Queensland Cowboys rallied to win a derby thriller 34-30.
The Cowboys had slumped to the bottom of the ladder after losing six of their previous seven matches, but they spoiled Sam Thaiday's 300th NRL game at 1300SMILES Stadium on Thursday.
Johnathan Thurston, facing rivals Brisbane for the final time in his illustrious career, set up the decisive score for Hess in an encounter which included an eight-point try for Matt Lodge.
The Broncos were outmuscled by Canterbury Bulldogs last week and they were up against it again when Gideon Gela-Mosby and Jason Taumalolo powered their way over following an early Jamayne Isaako penalty.
James Roberts' intercept try reduced the deficit and Thurston was fuming when a maximum-point Lodge try put the Broncos in front, Te Maire Martin punished for making contact with the prop with his knees as he grounded the ball.
Thurston argued that Martin was trying to prevent the try after being impeded off the ball, but the skipper was more content at the break after his penalty and a mammoth kick from Kyle Feldt edged the Cowboys back into the lead.
Quickfire tries from Korbin Sims and Tevita Pangai made it advantage Broncos, but scores from Feldt and Gavin Cooper in the space of three minutes cut their lead to just two points.
Wayne Bennett's side failed to see it out and remain seventh after a Thurston grubber bounced over the unfortunate Anthony Milford's head and Hess was on hand to touch down two minutes from time.
