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NORTH Queensland coach Paul Green delivered halfback Robert Lui an ultimatum to perform this week "or else".
Lui responded in emphatic fashion, producing his best game of the season as North Queensland defeated Newcastle 28-2 in Townsville.
The rugby league truism that North Queensland's fortunes are decided by Johanthan Thurston's form does not hold true this season.
The Cowboys' win-loss record in 2014 will rely on halfback Robert Lui and fullback Michael Morgan performing well.
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James Tamou is tackled by Willie Mason. Source: Getty Images
In the Cowboys' first win following a three-game losing streak, Lui and Morgan were sensational.
So was Thurston, but the champion five-eighth always is.
Morgan bagged two tries while Lui had a better game than his halves' partner, creating line breaks, tries and busting tackles at will.
The Cowboys receive excellence from Thurston each week but only win games when his co-stars perform like main attractions.
Lui and Morgan combined for 10 tackle busts which was more than the Cowboys' entire forward pack.
Lui's form against Newcastle was vastly improved from previous weeks, proving Green was right to stick with the under-siege half.
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"Play better ... or else," Green responded with a smile when asked what he told the underperforming Lui during the week.
"I was pleased. He's made improvements but he needed to.
"Across the team our effort was better, particularly in attack.
"We showed some discipline.
"We need to do that week in and week out."
Morgan's second try was a solo special as he chased his own grubber, tripped over then somehow power-crawled to score in front 11,189 fans in Townsville.
More importantly, Morgan was error free for the first time since round one.
Ray Thompson scores for the Cowboys. Source: Getty Images
Lui and Morgan were central to two of the Cowboys' three first-half tries and their 16-2 lead at the break.
Green told anyone who would listen that North Queensland's woes would end if they cut their errors in half.
Last night they slashed their mistakes from 21 against the Titans the previous week to 11.
The Knights played like a team exhausted from processing one of the most tragic incidents in rugby league history.
Joel Riethmuller is tackled by Adam Clydsdale. Source: Getty Images
Their victory over Cronulla a week earlier was built on an emotional adrenalin dump in the wake of Alex McKinnon's awful injury.
Last night their performance was completely devoid of energy.
The Cowboys looked like scoring on most plays and used a simple structure with Thurston patrolling the left-side attack and Lui the right, until they got into the opposition's 20m line where Thurston roamed free.
North Queensland scored three tries in 10 minutes in the first half as Thurston, Lui and Morgan ran amok.
Matthew Wright celebrates scoring on his Cowboys debut. Source: Getty Images
Their second half was nearly as impressive but gun second-rower Taumalolo was taken from the field nursing his shoulder after a spectacular but unsuccessful dive for a loose ball.
Taumalolo's early diagnosis is a minor AC joint injury.
Last night's win was crucial for the Cowboys.
If they lost they would have been placed last on the ladder.
Now they are within striking distance of the top eight.
However, North Queensland face back to back games in Sydney against likely-finalists Wests Tigers and Manly.
The Cowboys could be without Tariq Sims who was placed on report for a shoulder charge that appeared to collect Knights' half Tyrone Roberts high.
NORTH QUEENSLAND 28 (M Morgan 2 B Tate R Thompson M Wright tries J Thurston 4 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 2 (T Roberts goal) at 1300SMILES Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton, David Munro. Crowd: 11,189.
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