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North Queensland's retirement-bound captain Matt Scott watched the Cowboys snap a five-match NRL losing streak while hospitalised in Brisbane.

Bedridden in a Brisbane hospital ward, not even a stroke could stop Matt Scott cheering on his beloved North Queensland Cowboys.

Robbed of the final three games of a glittering 16-year career, the retirement-bound prop remains in hospital after suffering a mild stroke on his way back from North Queensland's round 22 loss to Newcastle.

And perhaps knowing Scott was watching on, his teammates put on a show to break their five-game losing streak with a 24-10 win over the Penrith Panthers at 1300SMILES Stadium on Friday.

"We found out before our first training session (about Scott's illness) and it was a lot to take in. We didn't have a great session," said captain Michael Morgan.

"But it wasn't difficult to play considering what Thumper (Scott) has done and what he means to this club."

Cowboys coach Paul Green said Scott's wife Lauren texted to say the rugged front rower had been determined to watch the game.

"She said he took some effort and went through a bit of pain to watch it but he did watch it. I hope he got a lift out of it."

North Queensland paid tribute to Scott by engineering a dramatic turnaround six days after being thrashed 42-6 by Newcastle.

"I'm proud of the effort that was the biggest difference, last week and tonight were completely different games in that area," Morgan said.