Queensland have held off fast-finishing NSW to secure a 24-18 victory and end the Blues dominance of the women’s State of Origin on Friday night.

In front of a sell-out crowd at Sunshine Coast Stadium, rangy fullback Tamika Upton, who starred for the Broncos during their premiership-winning NRLW campaign, scored a double as the Maroons registered their first win in the Origin format.

NSW looked to have one final chance to try and level in the final minute but the restart by Maroons centre Lauren Brown found touch, leaving their skipper Kezie Apps in tears.

The Blues had won the past two interstate challenges before the Origin format was launched in 2018.

Upton’s first try came in the 14th minute when she collected a kick from Blues playmaker Corban McGregor and stepped in and around the defence to race 60m, beating NSW fullback Botille Vette-Welsh to score.

The home side had all the early running but NSW built into the game and had levelled at 6-6 by halftime.

Halfback Melanie Howard put through a stabbing kick that bounced up perfectly for Apps to touch down.

The Maroons missed 27 tackles in the first half and, after blowing a number of attacking raids through errors, looked to be fading.

But they were revived during the break and came out firing, with Upton scoring her second just three minutes into the second stanza.

Despite running into a strong breeze, Queensland then piled on two tries within six minutes to Tarryn Aiken and Stephanie Hancock and with Brown adding the extras, led 24-6.

It looked like a comfortable margin but the Blues kept coming.

Tiana Penitani scored in the 59th minute and then Filomina Hanisi and Vette-Welsh both crossed within two minutes to give NSW a sniff.

But ultimately they ran out of time, with the Maroons deserved victors in the first Origin ever played in their state.