The Auckland native was the surprise star as the Bulldogs provisionally moved off the bottom of the ladder, scoring two tries and pile the pain on the struggling Cowboys at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

The former Penrith forward was called out by Pay in the sheds after a lacklustre first-half, only to come out firing after the break and earn man of the match honours.

He crossed for two second-half tries in a sensational exhibition of hole running and pulled off a try-saver on opposing back-rower Gavin Cooper.

"We weren't happy with his first-half and neither was he," Pay said.

"The way he responded was great. That's the way we know he can play, we knows he's a dynamic runner of the footy, it was good reward.

"I spoke to him (at halftime), I just said we need a better effort."

Outgoing Penrith supremo Phil Gould was reduced to tears at Harawira-Naera's decision to leave the foot of the mountains, and the New Zealander showed the Bulldogs had invested in a player of significant promise.

After Jayden Okunbor scored to level things up at 6-6 at halftime, Harawira-Naera gave his side the lead for the first time when he ran a beautiful line off Nick Meaney to score his first try for the club.

Skipper Josh Jackson extended his side's lead to 12 before Harawira-Naera siled into a hole off Adam Elliott to effectively seal the contest.

Pay sent a message to NSW coach Brad Fittler, saying, with Jack de Belin suspended, Jackson should be considered for the vacant Blues No.13 spot.

The Cowboys were threatening to force their way back into it when Ben Hampton crossed.

And Cooper looked set to score with nine minutes remaining but Harawira-Naera managed to get his hand under the ball and roll the Queensland Origin forward onto his back.

The Cowboys were diabolical in the second-half, coming up with 10 errors as they handed the game to Pay's team on a platter.

It was Paul Green's side's first appearance at ANZ Stadium since the 2017 grand final and the side has fallen dramatically in the last 18 months, despite their top 17 oozing class through the likes of Michael Morgan, Matt Scott, Jordan McLean and Josh McGuire.

"It's not so much those guys (senior players) that are not doing their job," Green said.

"The older, more experienced guys they're playing okay.

"We probably need them to bring the team together when they're under pressure. And that didn't happen, particularly at the start of the second half."

Green said superstar Jason Taumalolo was no certainty to return from a medial ligament injury next week against the Gold Coast.

Australian Associated Press