Queensland produced a miraculous comeback to stay alive in the three-match Women’s State of Origin series, winning Game Two against the Sky Blues 11-10 in driving rain thanks to a field gold from Lauren Brown with two minutes to go.

It was a sensational conclusion to a clash in front of a record crowd of 25,782 in Newcastle. They braved relentless rain and were rewarded with a pulsating contest that delivered as a showcase for the burgeoning women’s game, despite the wet conditions.

Queensland coach Tahnee Norris said it was an amazing night. “To win a game like that through a field goal, it’s just insane,” she said. “That’s true Origin football, it’s so good for our game to play a game of footy like that.”

Her captain Ali Brigginshaw – who set up the Maroons’ first try for Shenae Ciesiolka – said it was among her career highlights. “I just love women’s rugby league, you never know what you’re going to see, you never know how it’s going to pan out,” she said. “But we always seem to get the result and everyone wants to come and see.”

The Maroons had no right to win it. They barely escaped the first half, and seemed happy when they were down just 6-0 against a dominant Sky Blue side. But as Queensland have done so many times in the Origin arena, they found a way to win.

Brown’s field goal wobbled over from 25m out, but after a low pass from Tamika Upton, she was just happy to get good contact. The 29-year-old ran off to celebrate, with her teammates trailing behind as well as a yellow-shirted trainer.

Norris said her side had been practising field goals at training, and described Brown as “amazing”, for both her kicking and work at hooker. “Got to love the fact she can kick a footy,” she said.

The moment flipped the momentum of the series , with a decider in Townsville due in three weeks. The conclusion seemed barely believable after a match largely dominated by the home side.

Middle forward Caitlan Johnston, from just down the road in Belmont, was clearly feeling at home in a first half owned by the Sky Blues. The Knights marauder was having her way with the invading Maroons. In a brutal first half, the prop pulverised Romy Teitzel played inside by Ali Brigginshaw. Minutes later she put fullback Emma Tonegato through with a graceful offload.

Yet when NSW’s first try finally came, it was from a surprising source. The Maroons were again pinned on the line in the 24th minute, and Roosters hooker Keeley Davis ducked out of dummy half to open the scoring. She had been on the field just three minutes.

At half-time, the home side had made 853 metres to their opponents’ 612. They had more line breaks, more tackle breaks, received more penalties, and had almost two minutes more of possession. But their seven handling errors left the door ajar .

Norris admitted before Game Two her team was not good enough defensively in the middle of the park, and the major change to the team was to push Brigginshaw from lock into halfback. The switch opened up a place for 20-year-old Sienna Lofipo at lock, a rising star for the Gold Coast Titans. The debutant, alongside her well-organised teammates, kept the Maroons in it despite the Sky Blues enjoying much of the territory. And it was her bullocking run that set up the match-winning field goal.

Earlier, the home side appeared to have the result under control when Jess Sergis, playing with a heavily strapped knee, stole the ball from Maroons’ winger Julia Robinson with not much more than 10 minutes to play. Seconds later, NSW were over in the left corner thanks to a diving Tiana Penitani to make the score 10-4, appearing to snuff out the Maroons’ hopes for the shield.

But Queensland were unwilling to give up. They found the sideline from Teitzel’s ensuing kick-off, and marched straight back up the end. Tarryn Aiken drifted right, dummying once, twice, three times, before piercing the Sky Blues line to make it 10-8. Brown put over the conversion to tie the scores. And it was her again, who added a fitting exclamation point to a historic night of women’s rugby league.

The third match of the series will be played in Townsville on 27 June. It is the same venue that hosted the second and deciding contest of last year’s series, when the Sky Blues won the match but lost on aggregate points. New South Wales coach Kylie Hilder said her players will be “ready and raring to have redemption”.