Canterbury dominated the early exchanges in front of 9873 fans and took advantage in the 13th minute when Mitch Brown crossed for the opener out wide.
But from then it was mostly the Cowboys with winger Wright scoring two tries in four minutes to put the visitors 10-0 ahead on the half hour mark.
Fill-in centre Moses Mbye's poor read in defence opened the way for Wright's first, a brilliant Thurston chip kick creating his second. A Thurston penalty goal a minute before the break put the Cowboys ahead 12-6.
North Queensland picked up where they left off after halftime when Antonio Winterstein scored out wide with Thurston throwing the try assist with a lovely long ball.
The Queensland playmaker's conversion put the Cowboys ahead 18-6 with 31 minutes to play.
The Bulldogs then slowly but surely ground their way back into the match and Josh Jackson was rewarded when he scored in the 61st minute with Trent Hodkinson delivering the line break assist and the try assist, before a gritty Cowboys held out in the final quarter of the match.
Cowboys prop James Tamou was taken to hospital for scan on a neck injury he suffered in the 18th minute.
Bulldogs utility Tony Williams was put on report for a 34th minute high tackle on Robert Lui.
The Cowboys have form making a late run for the finals, having won six straight to make last year's playoffs.
The loss puts the Dogs in third behind Manly and Penrith
