Cowboys coach expects NRL response

North Queensland coach Paul Green is sticking by his players, expecting them to bounce back from last weekend's shock NRL loss to Wests Tigers.

Back-to-back losses have put them out of the NRL top four but North Queensland coach Paul Green isn't hitting the panic button just yet.

The Cowboys suffered a shock loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval last weekend to leave them fifth on the ladder behind Canberra and Canterbury.

Green says while the NRL's defending premiers underperformed against the Tigers, he expects them to use that disappointment as motivation this weekend against the struggling Sydney Roosters.