Queensland have got one back over NSW, with the Northern Pride pulling off a come-from-behind 32-28 victory over the Penrith Panthers to take out the inaugural rugby league State Championship.

Pride winger Javid Bowen, nephew of North Queensland Cowboys legend Matt, bagged three tries to lead the Cairns-based side to a memorable triumph over the highly-fancied Panthers at ANZ Stadium on Sunday in the curtain-raiser to the NRL grand final.

The novel concept saw the Queensland Cup premiers come to Sydney for the first time to take on the title-holders from the NSW Cup.

And the see-sawing battle clinched by the Pride with a try to Tyrone McCarthy with eight minutes left.

Penrith’s band of Fijian flyers looked like making up for the first-grade team dropping out of the NRL finals last week, with the Panthers going up 28-16 with less than half an hour left.

But crucial errors from Fijian outside backs Eto Nabuli and Wes Naiqama ultimately paved the way for the Pride to storm home with three tries in the final 21 minutes.

The Pride scored back-to-back tries to start the match, both off grubbers from five-eighth Shaun Nona.

But Nona’s boot wasn’t so reliable, missing both conversions, including one from directly in front to leave the door open.

Penrith didn’t take long to make the most of their chances, Kevin Naiqama showing incredible strength to bump off a would-be tackler inches from the left touch-line, before putting his five-eighth Luke Capewell away.

Pacific Island thrillers Nabuli and Waqa Blake also touched down in succession, but the Pride hung tough and went to the break locked at 16-16.

The first-ever State title looked headed to Penrith, who dominated this year’s NSW Cup, when Kierran Moseley and Kieran Moss added their names to the scorer’s sheet.

But when former Melbourne winger Semi Tadulala touched down millimetres inside the dead-ball line and Bowen completed his hat-trick off a Wes Naiqama spilled bomb – the Pride were back in business.

Nabuli had a chance to close the match out for the Panthers only to drop a Kevin Naiqama pass with the line open, and then Wes Naiqama’s horror day out continued – grassing a sitter of a kick to put the Pride on the attack.

McCarthy burst onto a short ball close to the line and crossed next to the posts to seal a thrilling affair.