NRL: Cowboys wary of Dragons

The North Queensland Cowboys. Photo / Getty images

North Queensland coach Neil Henry has warned the Cowboys will find themselves in the NRL's version of Survivor if they come away from WIN Stadium on Monday night without any premiership points.

With a desperate St George Illawarra (22 points) needing to win their last three games to challenge for a place in the top eight, Henry is expecting a tough night with a lot to play for.

A Cowboys win would keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive and kill off the Dragons' playoff hopes.

"It's not so much about putting other teams out as it is about ensuring we're in," said Henry, who will leave a decision until closer to the clash on playing halfback Ray Thompson with a shoulder injury.

Anthony Mitchell has been added to the squad as a precaution.

"We go down there desperate for two points ourselves to stay in the top half of the top eight. Otherwise, we're in that battle for survival."

Henry is wary of a Dragons side he says has copped some stick from the media.

"The media are on their back but you have to remember some of their outside backs Brett Morris and Jason Nightingale are phenomenal at getting up the field," he said.

"They're in the top half-dozen metre runners in the game," he said.

"We need to respect that and Jamie Soward is a very good player as well.

"Wollongong is a hostile environment for us and Monday night footy down there, it will be a bit cold as well.

"We've got everything to play for because we're only two points away from falling out of the top eight."

Henry was very confident Johnathan Thurston and prop James Tamou, who picked up minor injuries in the 52-12 shellacking of the Warriors last weekend, would be fine to play against the Dragons.

- AAP