North Queensland Cowboy Lachlan Coote returned from injury for the Mackay Cutters in their 22-16 loss to the Northern Pride in Cairns on Saturday night.

North Queensland Cowboy Lachlan Coote returned from injury for the Mackay Cutters in their 22-16 loss to the Northern Pride in Cairns on Saturday night. Stewart McLean

North Queensland Cowboys' fullback Lachlan Coote has stopped short of declaring he's ready for an NRL call-up despite a solid return from a hamstring injury for the Mackay Cutters.

The fullback had limited opportunities to get involved early in his comeback match against the Northern Pride at Barlow Park, Cairns, on Saturday night, but stepped up in the second as he worked his way into the game on the attacking end.

Scoring a try which ignited a Cutters comeback, Coote said he gained confidence from the run.

But finishing with zero from four conversion attempts, Coote said reading the game came naturally, but it was "back to the drawing board" with kicking practice.

"I felt really good out there. Obviously the second half was better than the first confidence-wise and it was really good to get a run and get a full 80 minutes under the belt," Coote said.

"I felt good, I'm getting my skill back to where it was, so it was a really good confidence booster going into next week."

What next week holds is an uncertainty for the 27-year-old, with Coote unsure of whether he had done enough to return to NRL level with the Cowboys.

Cowboys coach Paul Green hinted last week that Cootemight play multiple games with the Cutters, to allow the 158-gamer to perfect his game at Intrust Super Cup level.

"I'm not too sure there," Coote said of where he would line up this coming weekend.

"Maybe I need a few more minutes there (Cutters). I'm not too sure what (Green) is thinking. We'll just keep rolling with the punches and see where I end up."