Brent Tate admits there was an enormous sense of relief in the North Queensland sheds after Friday’s 22-16 win over St George Illawarra on Friday.

Queensland centre Tate scored the try that sealed a first win in six attempts for the Cowboys, thanks largely to a desperate second-half defensive effort.

Neil Henry’s side held out the Dragons for seven straight sets late in the game to hang on for a much-needed victory.

The result eased the pressure on the under-fire coach and helped his team end a difficult week on a high after star prop James Tamou was stood down for drink-driving.

“It wasn’t pretty but we really needed that,” Tate told AAP.

“Sometimes the ugly wins are the best ones. The defensive effort in the second half showed a lot of character and we can go into the bye now with a bit of confidence restored.”

Tate will now turn his attention to State of Origin where Queensland need to win in Brisbane to prevent a first series defeat since 2005, having lost the series opener in Sydney earlier this month.

The performance of Johnathan Thurston against the Dragons will have filled Maroons coach Mal Meninga with great optimism and Tate said the five-eighth’s return to fitness and form is a huge boost.

“He was busy again and such a competitor and that is exactly what we needed him to do,” Tate said.

“We all know what a great player he is and it’s good for Queensland that he has shaken off his groin injury ahead of game two.”

Thurston was unable to kick in the series opener but has fully recovered from the problem that kept him out of the Cowboys’ loss to Canterbury last week.

The 30-year-old is confident he will be 100 per cent for the June 26 clash having coming through unscathed in Wollongong.

“I could have played last week, but there was a slight chance I could have re-injured it,” Thurston said.

“Neil gave me the week off and I came back feeling really fresh and it was great to be part of a real great effort from the boys.”