Shaun Johnson has drilled a field goal in golden point extra time as the Warriors twice came from behind to beat North Queensland 25-24 in a Redcliffe NRL shootout.
The Warriors trailed 18-6 and then, after drawing level with tries either side of halftime, 24-18 as both teams sniffed a chance to improve to 3-2 on Friday night.
But it was the Warriors with all the chances late in the game, Johnson eventually winning it for his nomads at their adopted home with his third field goal attempt and second in extra time.
The halfback's first effort looked on track but was smothered by Jake Granville, before teammate Reece Walsh sliced his effort right with effectively the final play after 80 minutes.
Johnson then missed his first attempt after Granville pressured again, before sidestepping and drilling a low effort that snuck over the bar.
Earlier the Cowboys twice looked to have the contest under control, Tom Dearden's solo effort to dummy and score continuing his fine start to the season.
There was only one mistake in the first 20 minutes but that soon changed.
First Warriors forward Addin Fonua-Blake's lazy grab at a kick in-goal missed, allowing Scott Drinkwater the easiest of tries in his first game of the season.
Replacing injured Cowboys fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Drinkwater could then only watch as Chanel Harris-Tavita's 40-20 was successful.
Josh Curran then strolled over for the Warriors to make it 18-12 at the break, while they levelled it soon after the restart when Murray Taulagi dropped the kick-off and Kodi Nikorima scored untouched from dummy half.
Centres Valentine Holmes and Euan Aitken then traded tries, before both sides managed try-saving tackles in the final five minutes.
Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya was placed on report for a high tackle, while North Queensland's Griffin Neame left the game after a nasty concussion.
