Thurston forced off field

Queensland State of Origin selectors have suffered a couple of major scares during the Cowboys' 30-6 NRL win over the Dragons in Townsville.

Cowboys playmaker Johnathan Thurston was forced off the field after copping an elbow to the head, while prop Matt Scott sustained an ankle injury in his first game back from a month-long injury layoff.

Cowboys coach Neil Henry has allayed fears about Johnathan Thurston's wellbeing.

Henry says Thurston was fine in the changing room after the match and should pull up okay.

"Obviously we got a recovery day and a couple of days off now anyway. So it looks like he'll rest up and we'll see how he is later on in the week."

The result lifts the Cowboys to fourth on the ladder, level with the Bulldogs, who've thrashed the bottom of the table Eels 46-12 in Sydney.

Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba says the score line doesn't reflect the tight nature of the game.

"It was tough. Take the score line out it was still tough physical game. Parramatta tried right to the end and it's a credit to them, but it's a even bigger credit to our boys they really fought hard to come away with the win again."

The Eels have now lost eight of their opening nine matches, their worst start to a season in 52 years.

Photo: Thurston playing for the Kangaroos during the ANZAC test (Photosport)