Tom Gilbert helped the Dolphins to an emphatic win over North Queensland, then showed he still had a soft spot for his old club and teammates.
The Dolphins hard man smiled and beat his chest when he dived over to score his side's fifth try in their opening half blitz of North Queensland, before the NRL newcomers held on for a 32-22 victory on Friday.
Gilbert was one of three former Cowboys donning a Dolphins jersey at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with speedster and Cairns local Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Connelly Lemuelu back facing their former side.
Having been in the trenches with the Cowboys, endured the lows and ridden the highs, Gilbert still backs the Cowboys to turn their season around even after consigning them to a 2-4 start.
"I've still got a soft spot for them - they're my mates playing out there," Gilbert told AAP.
"I talk to them during the week and I don't like doing that after a loss because I know how down they get, and how it affects their weeks.
"They're going through some stuff with injuries, suspensions and some things just aren't gelling. But if I know anything about the Cowboys it's that they'll put up a good fight, and I definitely back them to turn it around.
"They've got the cattle and the coaching staff to do it."
The 22-year-old played with a point to prove on Friday, topping the running metres among forwards with 151 from his 19 hit-ups.
Gilbert also had five tackle busts, one line break and starred in an unrelenting Dolphins pack that made consistent yardage through the middle.
He said their mojo came from accountability and tough lessons learned following a tough loss to St George Illawarra in round five.
Combine that with losing skipper Jesse Bromwich before the Cowboys clash, and Gilbert knew his troops would have to front-up.
"We showed that we are tough. It's about individuals owning their roles," he said.
"Wayne (Bennett) has built a gameplan around his team, not picked a team around his gameplan.
"He lets blokes be themselves and helps them to flourish. It's really enjoyable."
