Gold Coast have taken the honours in the Queensland NRL derby against North Queensland with a scrappy 14-10 victory in Townsville.

In an early shoot-out for the Queensland State of Origin halfback jersey, neither Johnathan Thurston or Scott Prince were able to lay claim to the No.7 jersey with both sides struggling to maintain possession in wet conditions before 18,123 fans.

The Cowboys made a host changes to start the game, moving Travis Burns to the centres and Grant Rovelli to five-eighth but the home side struggled to find any rhythm in attack.

The Cowboys handed over too much possession in the first half and the Titans capitalised through first-half tries to Chris Walker and hooker Nathan Friend with Prince booting a penalty goal to build a 12 0 half-time lead.

It was all Cowboys in the opening stages of the second stanza, improved ball control paid dividends when Shannon Hegarty latched onto a Grant Rovelli bomb and Thurston added the extras to bring the margin back to six.

The rain tumbled down and Prince extended the lead to eight after Carl Webb was found offside after regathering a Thurston knockdown.

The home side refused to go away and gave the Titans a scare but the video referee Tim Mander denied Rovelli a try in the 70th minute while Thurston crossed for a late consolation try late on.

The Titans' courageous defensive effort was the catalyst behind their third straight victory, according to coach John Cartwright.

"That (defence) was brilliant, they are a very dangerous side when they get in that sort of mood and they were desperate," he said.

"Most of the defence was down in our own 30 or 40 metre zone and they were getting a lot of domination at the ruck.

"To hold them to the tries we did, it doesn't get much better."

North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston was left furious after being penalised in the 66th minute for having a hand on the head of Prince.

The resulting penalty goal saw the Titans go ahead by more than a converted try.

"(The referee) said I had my hand on his head, I said this is NRL footy mate, gee whiz you are giving them a penalty for that," Thurston said.

"It sort of cruelled us as well."

The Cowboys now have one win from five games and coach Neil Henry admits his side's attack is yet to click.

"Our self belief a little bit in attack is down," he said.

"We are getting in a field position where you really should put points on them we are not doing that.

"We need to find that illusive confidence, it is something teams lose and at the moment we are struggling with that."

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