The Maroons have claimed the State of Origin opener on home soil, after losing the series to the Blues last year.
More than 52,000 thousand fans flocked to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday evening for the promise of an action-packed match.
The teams did not disappoint, with the national anthem controversy, a fleeting lead from the Blues and a close contest up until the final siren.
Maroons won Game One 18-14, despite trailing the 2018 champions 8-0 by the 40 minute mark.
The Maroons have claimed the State of Origin opener on home soil, after losing the series to the Blues last year
QLD Maroons fan cheer for the squad during Wednesday's victory in Brisbane
But the game has again been marred by the refereeing with many questioning Queensland's two disallowed tries.
The video referee denied attempts from Dylan Napa and Corey Oates to take lead of the game on Wednesday.
Josh Morris and Jake Trbojevic scored in each half for the Blues but it was not enough to defeat the three tries through Corey Oates and Dane Gagai, who scored a double.
A key moment of the Maroons' comeback was in the 58th minute when Latrell Mitchell was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul against Matt Gillett, who was in a try-scoring position.
Mitchell's sin bin proved to turn the tables for the Maroons, who were held at 8-8 at the time.
They quickly found the power to take the lead, with Gagai scoring a 95m intercept try off an errant Jack Wighton pass in the 67th minute.
There were 60 seconds left on the sin bin clock for Mitchell.
Gagai then ran off a Kalyn Ponga cut out pass to score the matchwinner in the 71st.
'Like I always say, it came off the back of hard work and effort from the boys,' Gagai said.
The-28-year-old's successes were celebrated at the end of the game when he was awarded man of the match.
Rugby league legend Paul Vautin declared the match as 'one of the greatest Origin games'
Rugby league legend Paul Vautin declared the Game One as 'one of the greatest Origin games'.
'Queensland's come back sensational. NSW still had a chance to win it with a couple of minutes to go,' he told the Nine Network.
'All 34 players deserve a big round of applause. I enjoyed that. One of the great Origin games.'
After the match Blues' Damien Cook admitted the result was disappointing.
'Felt like we played good footy tonight... Credit to Queensland. They come out firing tonight. Kept going the whole 80 minutes,' he told the Nine Network.
Thousands of fans flocked to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday evening for the promise of another action-packed match
Gagai was a prominent force in the Maroon's victory, scoring two important tries to increase their lead in the second half
Gagai (pictured), who scored two important tries for the Maroons, was awarded man of the match
Speaking to the atmosphere Cook said it was always 'special' playing in Queensland.
'I'm a New South Welshman you love coming up here. They make it extra hard. Great turn,' he said.
'State of Origin is the best game... Would have been nice to get the win.'
Daly Cherry-Evans Queensland captain commended his team for the win but said they 'won't be getting too ahead of ourselves'.
'I can't be prouder of the boys and the way they defended in the second half,' he said.
Cherry-Evans said he was joined at Suncorp by immediate family and partners family.
'Lot of tickets. But worth every cent of it mate. Moments like this they're hard to forget.'
In terms of Gagai's award as man of the match award Cherry-Evans determined it was 'well deserved'.
'He's a fantastic teammate. For a winger, you want them to be able to do all the tough stuff. Don't get me wrong he scored great tries. His carries were fantastic. He lights the game up like that.'
More to come
Maroons won Game One 18 to 14, despite trailing the 2018 champions 8-0 by the 40 minute mark
Before the game kicked off, nine Origin stars opted to stay silent during Advanced Australia Affair.
Blues trio Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell vowed to abstain from singing the national anthem, along with Maroons rival Will Chambers, ahead of the first clash on Wednesday evening.
Blues representative Payne Haas joined the trio of Blues representatives and opted to stay silent.
For the Maroons, Josh Papalii, Dane Gagai, Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Napa did not sing alongside Will Chambers.
State of Origin stars have stayed true to their word and snubbed the pre-game national anthem, amid calls to change one word of Advance Australia Fair
Latrell Mitchell (left) and Josh Addo-Carr (right) did not sing the national anthem at Wednesday's opener
Left to right: Mitchell, Addo-Carr and Walker did not sing. They were joined by Payne Haas (right)
While thousands of fans at Suncorp Stadium sang the anthem, some Origin stars stood in silence as the camera panned across the two squads. Pictured: Dane Gagai stood in silence
Josh Papalii (right) joined Will Chambers (left) and opted to stay silent during Advanced Australia Fair
Maroons players stand while the national anthem is sang on Wednesday night
The silent protest comes amid a push to change the lyric 'young' to 'strong' amid criticism Advance Australia Fair does not represent the 60,000-year history of indigenous Australians.
Former Maroons star Johnathan Thurston seemingly addressed the conversation when he delivered an acknowledgement of country before the anthem.
'For 60,000 years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been passing down their stories from generation to generation,' he said.
'Tonight, we come together.
'Please join me as we acknowledge the traditional owners and pay our respects to elders past and present.
'We come together, we stand united with respect for the land and for one another.'
Dylan Napa (second from right) stood in silence during the anthem
Former Maroons star Johnathan Thurston seemingly addressed the anthem boycott when he delivered an acknowledgement of country
'For 60,000 years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been passing down their stories from generation to generation,' Thurston said before the
