North Queensland will go in search of their fifth consecutive win in Sydney in the elimination final against Cronulla — and a simple thing such as all players going to bed early before a game has paid dividends.

The Cowboys advanced to the second week of the NRL finals after co-captains Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden scored late tries as they rallied to eliminate Newcastle 28-16.

North Queensland has previously struggled when leaving Townsville but the Cowboys have won their last six road trips, and, more crucially, their past four in he NSW capital.

To win the title, as they are situated on the Penrith side of the draw, they will need to win the next three finals in Sydney starting with Friday night's showdown with the Sharks.

"We spoke about our away record at the start of this season and everybody is getting their routine the same," Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater said after the knockout finals win over the Knights.

'We are all going to bed at the same time as at home. When you are away in a team environment, it is easy to stay up a bit later.

"It is a personal obligation to the team to do what you would before home games where you are hanging out on your own or with the wife and where you go to bed normally a bit earlier. That is one reason why our away form has been better."

Three of their four wins in Sydney came against top-eight sides. The Cowboys beat Sydney Roosters 18-16, prevailed 16-6 over Penrith and walloped Canterbury 44-6 last week. The side's defence was integral to all those wins after they were written off by critics.

"We can play a little bit more freely (in Sydney), just with the weight of expectation we have here at home," Cowboys coach Todd Payten said after the win over the Knights in Townsville.

"We have put a lot of effort and work into our routines in what we are doing at our hotels the night before, and what we do on the day of the game, and that has had an impact.

"Our confidence has grown from win to win down in Sydney and we know we are very capable."

The Sharks and Cowboys have played each other five times in finals since 2013, with North Queensland ahead 3-2.

Their last clash in the semis was a 32-30 win to the Cowboys in a 2022 qualifying final when Valentine Holmes landed a two-point field goal in extra time.

Payten said the Cowboys would do "what we are paid to do" against the Sharks.

"They are a good defensive team and quick and athletic across the park. They have got some big bodies and they are skilful. She is going to be a cracking game," he said.

On Saturday night the Cowboys' comeback had been sparked by 73rd-minute Cotter-try in Townsville which came off a Jake Clifford bomb.

It was knocked back by winger Kyle Feldt, bounced off the knee of second-rower Heilum Luki and was then knocked on by Newcastle's Daniel Saifiti.

From there Cotter went to regather but the ball hit his knee. He and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga dived for the ball, to which Cotter won the race.

Fellow Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden then scored to ice the win.

Skipper Ponga had inspired the Knights to give them a 12-4 lead at the half-time break.

His dazzling footwork was on show early before he set up two tries, one with a trademark burst and another with a well-judged bomb.

His teammates, battle-hardened by three do-or-die regular season matches in the lead-up, were resolute in defence and conceded the one first-half try to an intercept.

Veteran Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt scored his 23rd try of the season, a new club record, when he snaffled an errant pass by fill-in centre Dylan Lucas in the 14th minute to race 85m to score.

Earlier, Ponga ghosted his way through a hole from 40m out and found hooker Jayden Brailey with a scintillating pass to give the visitors the lead.

Ponga called centre Dane Gagai to get ready for a lobbed bomb and landed it to perfection. Gagai contested, Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater dropped the ball and winger Fletcher Sharpe swooped.

Dearden delivered a try-saving play when he rushed back to tip the ball dead when Knights second-rower Tyson Frizell seemed certain to score.

A brilliant tap-on by Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes for winger Murray Taulagi to score straight after half-time got the Cowboys back in it.

The Cowboys finally grabbed the lead when Drinkwater put prop Jordan McLean over under the sticks but the Knights hit back when Lucas crashed over. Ponga hit the uprights with the conversion to leave it level at 16-all and set up a thrilling final 15 minutes.

Ponga split the Cowboys' defence and Gagai dropped a low pass with the line open before Cotter's heroics proved decisive.

Knights prop Leo Thompson was sin-binned at the death for a late hit on Feldt.

Earlier, a second half hat-trick from hooker Harry Grant guided Melbourne to a 37-10 win over Cronulla.

AAP

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