NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce kept the Sydney Roosters in touch with NRL leaders South Sydney, engineering a 12-8 win over North Queensland on Saturday in Townsville.

Pearce laid on the final pass for both Roosters tries, moving them within two points of the Rabbitohs and consigning the Cowboys to their second consecutive loss.

Much was made pre-game about the clash being a NSW State of Origin audition for halves combination James Maloney and Pearce and for Cowboys back-rower Tariq Sims.

The Roosters halves, who have helped their team reach second on the ladder, were solid guiding the Sydney side around a wet and slippery 1300Smiles Stadium.

While the Cowboys dominated early possession, Pearce laid on the Roosters’ opening try for Anthony Minichiello in the 23rd minute, the fullback making an overlap run and taking advantage of a gap created by a Kane Linnett slip.

A first half-try to Robert Lui, on his return from a dislocated knee, put the Cowboys back in touch before halftime and two penalty goals from Johnathan Thurston in the second half gave the home team an 8-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

But just as in the first half, Pearce swung the momentum back from the Cowboys with an excellent cut-out pass to Mitch Aubusson who burst through a gap to return the Roosters to the lead.

Sims showed his potential Origin teammates no favours, with consecutive crunching tackles on Pearce and then Maloney in the first half being the highlights in a consistent performance.

The slippery conditions created by the constant drizzle didn’t appear to affect either side’s ability to keep the ball, with both teams still managing to complete more than 75 per cent of their sets.

Ashley Graham had a chance to send the match into golden point but was unable to ground a Matt Bowen crossfield kick after the final buzzer and had his effort ruled no-try by the video referee.