It was a case of what could have been for the visitors, the Bulldogs – who now drop to sixth on the ladder – led into the 70th minute but couldn’t seal the deal.
The Cowboys opened the scoring in the fifth minute but Canterbury hit back when Josh Curran won the race to a Toby Sexton grubber before they hit the front in the 21st minute courtesy of a Matt Burton penalty goal.
The Cowboys levelled the scores four minutes later but the Bulldogs had the last laugh in the first half after Bronson Xerri went in, ensuring a 12-8 advantage.
The second half started in the worst way for Cameron Ciraldo’s side with two penalties, a set restart and a Blake Wilson sin bin allowing the Cowboys to score in the 44th minute.
Canterbury eventually hit back through a brilliant Jacob Kiraz leap.
The Bulldogs maintained their lead into the final 10 minutes before a Cowboy try put them up 20-18 with seven minutes left.
They fought hard but North Queensland held on to claim the victory.
Ciraldo said it would have been awesome to win but it wasn’t meant to be.
“I’m really proud of our guys, they did a lot of things great; with their effort and attitude, I just couldn’t ask for more,” he said.
The Bulldogs next take on the Broncos on Sunday from 3pm at Suncorp Stadium.
Other results: Knock On Effect Cup, the Bulldogs defeated the Eels 32-22 and next do battle with the Bears on Saturday from 12pm at Belmore; Jersey Flegg Cup, the Bulldogs lost to the Eels 12-19 with a bye this weekend; and in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership, the Bulldogs lost to the Dragons, 14-20, and next face the WV Magpies on Sunday from 11.15am at Ringrose Park Sydney.
Bulldogs lose by whisker
THEY were full of bark but the Bulldogs narrowly lost 20-18 to the Cowboys in Townsville in a gritty 80-minute contest on Sunday.