North Queensland leapfrogged the Warriors into fourth place on the National Rugby League ladder, after coming from behind to beat Cronulla 28-20 in Townsville.
Coming off the back of a three-match losing streak, the Cowboys needed to win their final two matches to have any hope of earning a home final.
They finished the match with just two players on the bench after losing Tariq Sims (broken leg) and Dallas Johnson (concussion) to injury but finished over the top of the gallant Sharks.
