Queensland have rallied from a comprehensive loss seven days earlier to snatch a 20-14 victory over New South Wales and break a three-year State of Origin drought at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
After exiting the previous encounter with concussion, five-eighth Cameron Munster returned to stamp his class on the decider, sparking a decisive try that broke the backs of the Blues.
With the scores tied at 6-6 and halftime looming, Munster chipped ahead, regathered and chipped again to throw the NSW defence into confusion. When he received the ball back, he kicked across field, where the bounce eventually found debutant Edrick Lee, who scored untouched.
Valentine Holmes kicked a penalty midway through the second half to extend the advantage, before young hooker Harry Grant snatched the gamewinner, ranging inside prop Christian Welch for an offload and stretching to find the try-line.
Also on debut, Grant proved influential when he entered the game, signalling the start of what promises to be a long Origin career.
But moments later, New South Wales struck back to keep the contest alive, with winger Daniel Tupou crossing in the corner. Nathan Cleary converted and kick a penalty to close within a converted try, but the Blues could not force golden point, despite holding a one-man advantage for the final few minutes.
Queensland fullback Corey Allen was sin-binned for impeding speedster Josh Addo-Carr as he chased a kick ahead for a possible try, but NSW were unable to capitalise and the home side held on.
If Munster's departure cost his team Game Two in Sydney, Blues hopes suffered a massive blow, when inspirational captain James Tedesco was knocked groggy in a tackle midway through the first half and failed his head injury assessment.
The fullback had scored his side's opening try, but they lost much of their attacking impetus without his presence behind the backline.
The highly anticipated clash between young guns Tino Fa'asuamalaeui and Payne Haas never eventuated, after their fiery clash a week earlier.
Munster was ultimately named Player of the Series, as the much-maligned Maroons - branded by Sydney media as the worst ever from north of the border - foiled their rivals' quest for a hat-trick of series wins.
Queensland 20 (Holmes, Grant & E Lee tries; Holmes 3 conversions & penalty) NSW 14 (Tedesco & Tupou tries; Cleary 2 conversions & penalty)
