NSW halfback Brett Finch has written himself into State of Origin folklore with a late match-winning field goal to dash a stunning Queensland fightback and lift the Blues to a thrilling 17-16 win in the series opener at Telstra Stadium.

Collecting the ball 38 metres out from the posts, Finch calmly stepped up and piloted the ball through the posts, capping a remarkable 24 hours in which he was called into the NSW side as its fourth choice halfback after an injury to Craig Gower and the unavailability of Andrew Johns and Matt Orford.

It capped a brilliant game for the much-maligned Sydney Roosters playmaker, who set up two tries and scored the other himself in a display reminiscent of those performed by Johns in the sky blue jumper.

But he said afterwards he didn't know whether it was enough to guarantee him another game.

"I haven't got one all year," Finch said of his late field goal.

"I thought it was going left and it straightened and lucky for me it went over, it was a magnificent feeling.

"It's (the last 24 hours) been very exciting. I got a chance two years ago and I thought that would be it.

"If I get another chance that would be great but I'm just thankful for getting another crack."

Finch's late heroics sank the hearts of Queensland fans and players alike after they had stormed back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to lock the game up at 16-all with less than four minutes on the clock - halfback Johnathan Thurston slotting over a sideline conversion after a try to Steve Bell.

Bell's four-pointer came after a moment of madness from Blues skipper Danny Buderus, who was penalised after lashing out at lock Dallas Johnson just 10 metres from his own line, the Newcastle rake fearing he had cost his side the game.

"(I was) absolutely shattered," Buderus said.

"I wouldn't have lived that down, it was something that really hurt, it was something in the heat of the moment.

"Thank God for Brett Finch.

"I feel for Gowie, he was with the team up to yesterday but all credit to Brett ... we wouldn't have got away with that without the character of the guys we have."

The loss leaves the Maroons on the brink of an unprecedented fourth straight series loss with Queensland still unable to crack a win at the Olympic venue in 11 attempts, but hooker Cameron Smith remained hopeful of a recovery.

"The guys are very disappointed, especially the seven rookies but after Mal spoke to us there's a positive feeling amongst the players.

"That's just one game, there's two games to go and we're looking forward to getting back to home territory."

Despite Queensland starting the better of the two sides, it was NSW who struck first blood with Finch backing up to complete an 85-metre movement after Brent Tate had knocked on close to the Blues line.

Two more tries before the half hour, the first to Matt King and the second to Willie Mason who resembled a runaway truck as he crashed past three defenders in a 25-metre charge to the line, gave NSW a 14-0 lead.

But just like last year's opening game when the Blues came from 19-0 down to force the game into golden point, the Maroons came storming back.

Lockyer found Greg Inglis out wide in the 53rd minute and the 19-year-old did well to hold off a Gasnier tackle to get the ball down in the corner for Queensland's first points.

The Blues then looked like they had the game sewn up only for King to be denied by the video referee for dropping the ball short of the line.

Queensland then hit back when Inglis grabbed his second of the night to stir up emotion, but there was no denying NSW.

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