Unbelievable: Cowboy Warriors celebrated after achieving….

Warriors applauded after ‘unbelievable achievement’, Cowboys stay in NRL finals contention.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster called his team’s top-four finish “unbelievable” following their 18-6 win over St George Illawarra, which secured them a double chance in the finals.

Following last year’s 15th-place finish, the Warriors ensured that at least one Australian team would face the difficult task of crossing the Tasman to face the New Zealand-based club in the play-offs.

The Warriors’ seventh-straight win was aided by a stifling defensive effort, but it came at a cost.

Five-eighth Luke Metcalf left Mount Smart Stadium clutching his hamstring on Friday night, in what could be a huge blow just a fortnight before the finals.

Metcalf’s absence hampered a Warriors team that lacked attacking flair. After two early scores, they were held scoreless for 55 minutes before a late four-pointer sealed the victory.

Webster said his team’s outstanding defensive performance distinguished it from other scrappy victories in recent weeks.

“The boys defended unbelievably tonight, that was the best part of their game,” he went on to say.

“They [the Dragons] scored a try off a kick, not by breaking us down, and I never felt like they looked like they were doing that.”

“Top four is an incredible achievement for the club; everyone should be extremely proud.” But now we move on to another goal.”

The Cowboys are still in the finals race.

North Queensland coach Todd Payten is unsure whether Penrith counterpart Ivan Cleary will rest players or field a full squad when the two sides meet in the final round.

The Cowboys kept their finals hopes alive with a 34-10 win over the Dolphins in Brisbane on Friday night.

They are ninth on 30 points, one point behind the eighth-placed Rabbitohs, who have the bye this round, due to a lower for-and-against figure.

Payten stated that the Panthers’ approach to next Saturday’s game at Penrith Stadium is “out of our control.”

“What we need to do is recover well,” he went on to say.

“We need a good strong week at training and we need to improve.”

On Thursday night, the Panthers were defeated by Parramatta 32-18.

They are tied on 40 points with Brisbane at the top of the ladder for the minor premiership.

Before facing the Panthers, the Broncos will play Canberra on Saturday and the Melbourne Storm on Thursday.