Dearden steers Cowboys to crucial win over Bulldogs

North Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden has inspired the Cowboys to a tense victory over the Bulldogs in Townsville. 

The playmaker was superb in backing up just days after Wednesday's State of Origin decider, producing the match-winning break with 10 minutes remaining.

The 20-18 win ensures the Cowboys remain inside the top-eight for another week while the Bulldogs drop to sixth on the ladder. 

It was a case of what could have been for the visitors after they led into the 70th minute before Dearden's piece of individual brilliance. 

The Cowboys opened the scoring when Heilum Luki crashed over in just the fifth minute, capping a near-perfect start for the hosts. 

Canterbury, however, hit back when Josh Curran won the race to a Toby Sexton grubber before they hit the front in the 21st minute courtesy of a Matt Burton penalty goal.

Valentine Holmes levelled the scores four minutes later but the Bulldogs had the last laugh in the half. 

Sexton's boot was again key, Bronson Xerri latching on to the halfback's grubber to ensure the visitors entered the sheds with a 12-8 advantage.

The second half started in the worst possible fashion for Cameron Ciraldo's side, two penalties, a set restart and a Blake Wilson sin bin allowing the Cowboys to build a mountain of pressure before Luki scored his second in the 44th minute.

After nearly six minutes of defence, a North Queensland error saw momentum shift back towards Canterbury and they eventually hit back through a brilliant Jacob Kiraz leap. 

The Bulldogs maintained their lead into the final 10 minutes before Dearden produced a piece of individual brilliance to slide straight through the Bulldogs defence to set up a long-range Jaxon Purdue try that put the Cowboys up 20-18 with seven minutes to play. 

The visitors fought hard to hit back, however they were unable to break through as North Queensland held on for a crucial victory.