NRL: Win over Cowboys boosts Warriors

The Warriors will take back-to-back successes into their final NRL trial against Manly this week after again finishing impressively in beating North Queensland 28-6 in Cairns.

The performance followed last Saturday's 26-8 victory over the Sydney Roosters in Rotorua.

While the Warriors fielded a more experienced side on Saturday night, they were still without key players such as captain Simon Mannering, Steve Price, Brent Tate, Manu Vatuvei, Wade McKinnon and Ian Henderson.

The Cowboys initially named their strongest combination for the encounter but, in the end, coach Neil Henry opted not to play captain Johnathan Thurston, although he did call on new signing Willie Mason.

Coach Ivan Cleary said the defensive effort and the improvements seen on attack had again been encouraging.

It was also heartening to have so many players performing so well heading into the last trial against Manly at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

Another positive from the victory was a lack of injuries.

* Canberra coach David Furner says his players will take a lot of positives from their 32-24 loss to Brisbane, which was "very pleasing".

Canberra led Brisbane 12-4 at halftime after controlling the ball for 11 successive sets of tackles, putting Brisbane's defence under constant pressure.

But a hat-trick of tries to Broncos star Israel Folau and a double to centre prospect Ben Te'o got Brisbane home in an entertaining clash at Ballymore.

* Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson was left counting the cost of Saturday night's bruising trial loss to Penrith after star duo Jarryd Hayne and Daniel Mortimer finished the game nursing injuries.

A Panthers side missing captain Petero Civoniceva and fellow internationals Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse upset the Eels 32-12 at CUA Stadium.

Hayne aggravated a sternum complaint and Mortimer was left with a nasty head gash - and Ben Smith had a suspected broken cheekbone.

Anderson said Hayne would be fit for Saturday's trial against the Sydney Roosters but was less confident about Mortimer and Nathan Hindmarsh, the latter recovering from surgery to his left wrist.

- AAP