Queensland's forwards stocks could be tested after both Jaydn Su'A and Josh Papalii were placed on report for high shots in separate games on Saturday.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten believes his team showed too much respect to the Sydney Roosters as a timid opening cost North Queensland a shot at a big-name scalp in the 30-16 loss at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Payten lamented his side conceding four tries in the opening 25 minutes of the Magic Round clash and despite clawing their way back to trail 18-16 shortly after half-time his Cowboys were eventually silenced in the six tries to three defeat.
The Cowboys were very much still in the contest at 22-16 down when Lachlan Burr was sin binned for a high tackle on Roosters fullback James Tedesco in the 63rd minute even though the star No.1 was clearly slipping before contact.
Gold Coast powerhouse David Fifita has been charged for a high tackle, putting him at risk of missing Magic Round unless he is cleared at the NRL judiciary.
Having never started in the front row until three weeks ago, a move to prop has rejuvenated Cowboys big man Coen Hess and coincided with an uptick in the team s form.
After a horror 0-4 start to 2021, the Cowboys broke their duck in a high-scoring away win at Leichhardt Oval in round five with Hess starting at lock in what was a very rare sojourn in the middle for the 24-year-old edge forward.
Coach Todd Payten obviously liked what he saw because Hess has started in the No.8 jersey for three straight games since, with the Cowboys winning three straight from the Wests Tigers game before last weekend s narrow loss to the Warriors in Gosford.