Coach Paul Green says the Cowboys need to improve their defence if they are to win a maiden title

THE Cowboys will have to improve their defence to win their maiden premiership despite a club record nine-match winning streak, coach Paul Green says.

Cowboys v Bulldogs

THE Cowboys will have to improve their defence to win their maiden premiership despite a club record nine-match winning streak, coach Paul Green says.

North Queensland have averaged 15.2 points per game in the nine wins since their three-game run of losses to start the season.

Heading into tonight’s away clash against Parramatta, Green wants the Cowboys to build on a defensive improvement which in their past two games have limited the other team to nil (Wests Tigers) and 14 (Manly).

Cowboys’ Johnathan Thurston with coach Paul Green.

“Looking at the competition, we need to improve a little in defence,’’ Green said.

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“Fifteen over the course of the year would have put you in a good position last year, but I think it’s not good enough this year. The Dragons are a fair bit below 15.

“Ethan Lowe and Gavin Cooper are playing a really important role there for us as link men between our middle forwards and those on the edges.’’

The Dragons have conceded 126 in 11 matches at an average of 11.4 points, while over the course of 2015 the more free-scoring Cowboys are averaging 18.7 points from their 12 games.

North Queensland are six points better off after 12 matches than they were at the corresponding round last season, where they made the finals but were eliminated in the first weekend.

“This year, having banked the wins, it’s a different feeling among the paying group than last year,’’ he said.

Green said premiership favourites Sydney Roosters have been the most impressive team his side has played this year. The Roosters won 28-4 in Townsville in Round 1.

“We haven’t played the Dragons yet, so I can’t comment on them so much, but the Broncos, when they get their game on, can be pretty hard to handle,’’ he said.

“We played (and beat) Souths without (Adam) Reynolds and they are a different kettle on fish with him in the side.’’

The 15th-placed Eels surprised Penrith last weekend and will be hoping that the Cowboys, with up to four Origin players involved tonight, will be distracted by tomorrow’s start of the Origin II campaigns and low on motivation because of their grasp on equal first place.

“Everyone feels the pressure when you’re not getting the results,’’ Green said.