On an emotional day at the SCG, North Queensland were courageous following the death of former coach Paul Green but ultimately outplayed by a Roosters side on a mission.
Two months ago it looked as if the Roosters were at risk of missing the top-eight for only the second time in Trent Robinson's decade-long tenure.
Their football was faultering and they had the hardest run home of any team.
Now, it's a question of how good can they get with the top-eight almost decided.
The Roosters have now won their past five games and look a different team in the middle with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Matt Lodge starting together.
The pair both bagged tries in Saturday's win, each topping 150 metres with Victor Radley also laying on the Tri-colours first two four-pointers at lock.
Together, they also subdued the Cowboys' pack, completing limiting their impact as no middle ran over 100 metres.
"Lodgey is a big man, he is 119 or 120kg. They're quite rare in our game. Jared 114 or 115, but a big presence," coach Trent Robinson said.
"With Siosiua (Taukeiaho) and Lindsay (Collins) out, Lodgey has been able to come in and just play his game.
"And what that does is allow that really big man to play next to Jared and say I am going to play with you. So there is a real tag team they play with.
"And Rads adds some vision and hardness around that as well."
Hooker Sam Verrills also claimed a double just days after announcing his move to Gold Coast, benefiting off the pair's ruck speed and domination in the middle on Saturday.
"We probably started to believe a month ago if we play our best footy we can make a run for it," captain James Tedesco said.
"That belief has got bigger and bigger each week.
"You can feel it among the team. And to play against a top side like the Cowboys and win pretty well, it will make the belief even bigger."
Joseph Suaalii was also involved in everything, scoring the first try off an underarm harbour-bridge ball from Radley and forcing a dropout later when he jammed in on Griffin Neame.
After the Roosters led 14-6 at halftime, the only came when the Cowboys claimed Lodge had held Griffin Neame back in a scrum as Verrills went over untouched.
The Cowboys managed to get back to 20-10, but by then the Roosters were able to flex their muscle in the middle and seal the game in the final 20 minutes.
The result all but ensures Penrith will finish as minor premiers, with the Cowboys now scrapping in the final three rounds to keep second spot and a home final in week one.
"We got a lesson in finals football four weeks out from the finals," Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.
"We were probably too nice in a lot of moments and we played a hungry team who know how to win.
"And when they have their foot on the throat they don't take it off."
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