Despite the Maroons scoring the opening try, it was the Blues who struck back with three four-pointers to take a 10-point lead into the break.
It was a nervous start for Maroons debutant Valentine Holmes who lost the ball with his first touch in the Origin arena after a huge hit from Aaron Woods in the second minute.
Despite the shaky start, the 21-year-old made up for the effort to hand Queensland the early advantage.
NSW five-eighth James Maloney was penalised for a tackle off the ball on Billy Slater to send the visitors into Blues territory.
