'Could've gone either way': Johnathan Thurston's emotional moment after nail-biting Cowboys win

A simple embrace with a club legend summed up the emotions of the Cowboys crowd and players on Saturday night.

North Queensland will have another chance at advancing towards the premiership after edging out the Knights 28-16 in a thriller at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

Riding a wave of emotions during a post-match interview, Nine's Johnathan Thurston could not help but celebrate the triumph with the Scott Drinkwater.

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"That crowd was buzzing tonight," the Cowboys fullback said.

"The energy when we ran out was crazy. At the start of the second half they lifted us."

Lifted by the home crowd, Drinkwater acknowledged the turbulent momentum swings and why the Townsville faithful played such an important role.

"Look, it was a tough game that one and it's only going to get tougher. Obviously stoked to get through," he said.

"At half time, we got told to stay calm, stay to our processes, not to panic, just go out there and try to win. It was end-to-end footy but we trusted the process."

Kalyn Ponga was threatening every time he ran the ball, but a costly dropped ball by Dane Gagai reduced the club's chance of a comeback at the back end of the game.

To add salt to the fullback's wounds, Reuben Cotter found an opportunity to pounce and set the stadium alight in unbelievable scenes, while Ponga, who was a hairline away from stopping the try, was left to rue a missed opportunity.

"He's a dangerous ball runner KP," Drinkwater said.

"He got through the line a couple of times. It could've gone either way with that pass to Gagai. Fortunately for us, they didn't score under the sticks.

"He was big but I guess our squad was just a bit more battle-hard tonight."

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The win for North Queensland confirms their ticket to Sydney next week, where they will face a fiery Cronulla Sharks line in bid to advance to the preliminary final.

But the challenge of the Sharks is not one which Drinkwater opposes, declaring he is ready to "give it a crack."

"They'll start fast Cronulla, they always do, especially against us," he said.

"We will get there and have to match them physically to start... they are big boys.

"I'm looking forward to it."