New South Wales headed into enemy territory to try and repeat their exploits from last year when they beat Queensland in their own backyard in the opening game of the three-match women's State of Origin series.
The Blues boasted a new look this time around with John Strange taking over from Kylie Hilder as coach and bringing in several fresh faces.
After a typically absorbing contest, NSW managed powered their way to a comprehensive 32-12 victory over the Maroons in front of a record-breaking crowd of 26,022 at Suncorp Stadium.
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The visitors got off to the perfect start in Brisbane as they enjoyed a sustained period of possession in the attacking zone.
The pressure eventually told with Jessica Sergis crashing over after second-phase play was generated by an Olivia Kernick offload.
A sweeping backline move saw the ball eventually land in the hands of the centre, who dummied to Jaime Chapman before going over inside the opening five minutes.
The Maroons had barely touched the ball at this point with Ali Brigginshaw’s wayward kick in the first set forcing her side to defend their line again and again until they finally cracked.
However, the Maroons hit straight back with Tarryn Aiken’s pin-point kick trapping Abbi Church.
The NSW fullback was caught too stationary under the high ball by Julia Robinson with the winger’s spilled catch picked up by backrower Sienna Lofipo to score.
Parity proved to be short-lived though as NSW reclaimed the lead through Isabelle Kelly.
"It didn’t all go to script but Kernick got the ball to Jesse Southwell," Allana Ferguson said during Nine’s commentary.
"Southwell’s play there showed maturity and composure beyond her years," Phil Gould added.
The halfback picked up an offload down by her laces before squaring up the defence and creating the space for her star centre to cross.
Southwell’s short-kicking game was causing QLD all kinds of problems with her weighted grubbers into the in-goal repeatedly earning drop-outs.
Off the back of the second in the first stanza, the Blues hit the scoreboard again when Southwell whipped the ball out the back to Church.
The No.1’s quick feet put her on the outside shoulder of an onrushing Queensland defender before Kelly produced a great catch-and-pass to put Jayme Fressard over in the corner.
"They’re a beautifully prepared football team at the moment because this is brilliant rugby league," Gould enthused.
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Yet the home side refused to go down quietly as Aitken was at the heart of her side’s response.
The playmaker burst towards the defensive line from a quick play-the-ball and squared up Tiana Penitani Gray before delivering a short ball to send Rory Owen over.
Penitani Gray, who had been named in the unfamiliar position of five-eighth, was continually targeted in defence.
Firmly on the back foot, she was penalised for pulling on the hair of Tamika Upton, who threatened to slice her way through and hand the home side the lead for the first time in the match.
The Cronulla skipper’s illegal act allowed her side to see out the rest of the half though as they headed into the sheds with a 14-12 advantage.
NSW were the first team to hit the scoreboard in the second half with a QLD error out of yardage brutally punished by the visitors as Fressard strolled over for her second of the night.
Fellow debutant Ellie Johnston then added to the Blues' celebrations as the big front rower smashed her way over from close range.
"They would have done well to hang on there the Queenslanders as they're under a lot of fatigue and NSW have all of the momentum," Darren Lockyer said.
Lockyer's assessment proved to be on the money with the Blues booting a penalty goal to extend their advantage before Southwell's double-pump opened up an avenue for Church to exploit.
The debutant touched down to put the cherry on top of the cake of an impressive first performance from Strange's side.
NSW will now have the chance to wrestle the shield from out of their rival's grasp with the final two games to be staged on home soil.