New South Wales shot out to a State of Origin series lead with a come-from-behind 22-12 game one win over Queensland in Melbourne tonight.
Blues' left wing Josh Addo-Carr scored the match-winner 11 minutes from fulltime after fellow debutant backs Latrell Mitchell and wing Tom Trbojevic crossed to see New South Wales fight back from 12-8 down early in the second half in front of 87,122 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Brad Fittler coached side featuring 11 debutants enjoyed a 8-6 halftime lead after fullback James Tedesco scored the opening four-pointer before Queensland replied through an intercept try to wing Valentine Holmes, in a seesawing first half that saw waves of possession dictate momentum to either side.
Queensland stole a four-point lead early in the second-half with centre Dane Gagai scoring off a grubber from halfback Ben Hunt, but the Blues came home with a wet sail and were unlucky to miss out on more points.
For the first time since 2003, Queensland were without any of their 'Big Four' star players following the representative retirements of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston and the injury enforced absence of fullback Billy Slater.