New South Wales quelled a rousing Queensland comeback to win the opener of the first-ever three match Women’s State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium. The Sky Blues’ gritty, athletic victory was only secured in the dying minutes, after the Maroons’ second-half turnaround ended when Emma Manzelmann dropped a ball over the line inside the final 10 minutes.

Although this was the first time a standalone women’s Origin game has been held at Suncorp Stadium, the clash has everything that could be expected from the famous contest between the states.

This was serious football. If it wasn’t obvious with the record crowd, or the pre-kick-off mind games of just who the underdogs were, it was plainly clear when there was a last-minute change to the Sky Blues run-on side.

Backrower Olivia Kernick shifted into the starting side at lock for her Roosters teammate Keeley Davis, who has played hooker for much of her career. It gave the Sky Blues pack more size, but they also gave up nothing in terms of playmaking, as the Maroons would soon find out.

Queensland’s squad had benefited from being involved in the state’s premier competition, the BMD Premiership, since the start of March. It meant much of the team, including fullback Tamika Upton, halfback Zahara Temara and lock Ali Brigginshaw enjoyed six or more competitive matches as preparation.

Some New South Wales players also went up north to play, including Kezie Apps and Kernick. But the bulk of the squad have come into the most anticipated game of Australian women’s rugby league relying on a seven-week training camp. Coach Kylie Hilder had described it as the best preparation the team has had in her four years in charge.

And the opening stages showed why she’s the coach. There was no sign of disjointed play in a clash some pegged as part of the NRLW pre-season. Instead the Sky Blues broke through early with an injection of ball-playing brilliance from Hilder’s late change Kernick.

Drifting across midfield, a flat pass from the Roosters forward sent a marauding Caitlan Johnston through the line. The prop found Emma Tonegato in support to put the southerners up a try and silence the expectant crowd.

Even the most one-eyed Queenslanders would also have been impressed by the Sky Blues’ magnificent second four-pointer. A rushed kick from Maroons backrower Romy Teitzel towards the left corner, only served to stretch Queensland’s defensive line. The ball ended up in the hands of winger Jaime Chapman, and a goose step took her past Maroons centre Evania Pelite. Streaking through midfield, the Kamilaroi woman cruised around Upton like she was riding a jetski off Cairns. It was an exhilarating, end-to-end display of athleticism fitting of the occasion.

At half-time it looked like any advantage the famous Lang Park had offered the Maroons was worth little. The Blues led by 14. They had enjoyed 55% of the first half possession, had recorded 809 run metres to the home side’s 485. Three linebreaks to nought, 15 tackle breaks to 6. The place was shocked.

And for much of the second half, New South Wales continued to assert their dominance. They were finding breaks in the Maroons line with ease, and the forwards were rolling through the middle. What chances the Queenslanders had were spoiled by handling errors, and the home fans were losing faith.

As a Mexican wave went up around Suncorp midway through the second half, the ball found its way to fullback Upton not far from the Sky Blues’ line on the left of the field. The NRLW premier and Dally M winner last season took a giant step back inside, taking her past Apps and Rachael Pearson, and dragging Tonegato over the line.

The breakthrough came just as the record attendance of 25,492 was announced; could it be the start of another famous Queensland Origin comeback? Roared on by eager fans, Queensland were now the team finding yards down the middle, and the Sky Blues were defending their line. In one desperate exchange, Maroons’ five-eighth Tarryn Aiken looked certain to score, before New South Wales halfback Pearson managed to pull her down within inches of the tryline. Then, inside 10 minutes to go, an Upton grubber was narrowly pushed dead by Tonegato.

In the very next set came the match’s decisive moment. The Queenslanders again had the Sky Blues pinned back. A dummy half scurry by Cowboys hooker Manzelmann around Millie Elliott got her across the line. The home crowd thought they had their second try, which would have brought the Maroons within a single score. But Manzelmann came up shaking her head: she had dropped it just as she stretched out her arms.

That was as close as Queensland came. The Sky Blues went straight up the other end and scored with a crash play by Johnston, found inside off dummy half Olivia Higgins. A late Queensland try to Emily Bass was academic, but sets the scene for the second fixture in the series in Newcastle on 6 June.