The unsung heroics of two of Queensland's oldest players sparked one of the Maroons' finest State of Origin rugby league comebacks as they trumped NSW 25-18 in Game I at Suncorp Stadium.

Inspirational props Steven Price and Petero Civoniceva showed the young brigade that winning rugby league games is all about heart as they led Queensland to a massive revival against the 'Baby Blues' in front of the largest Origin crowd at the redeveloped stadium of 52,498.

Halfback Johnathan Thurston won man of the match and Greg Inglis scored twice but it was undoubtedly the tireless performance of Civoniceva and particularly Price that won the game for Queensland.

Civoniceva, 31, pulled off 31 tackles and had 20 hit ups for 189 metres while 33-year-old Price had 22 tackles, 14 hit ups at 221 metres including a try to help the home side to a 1-nil lead in the best of three series.

Trailing 18-6 at halftime after a brilliant first half by Blues rookies Jarrod Mullen and Jarryd Hayne, the Queenslanders scored three tries in 11 frenetic minutes to snatch the lead and then keep NSW scoreless for the entire half to and run out four tries to three victors.

"We keep on believing regardless of what situation we get ourselves into," said Queensland coach Mal Meninga.

Meninga held special praise for Price, who also had a try disallowed and showed his never-say-die spirit with a late charge down from a kick to snuffle an attempted Blues revival.

"I thought he was fantastic tonight. He would have gone close to man of the match," said Meninga.

"(Price and Civoniceva) are our old guards ... they keep putting their hand up, at times they don't get a lot of accolades.

"We constantly talk about what a quality backline Queensland has but ask any of the backs, those forwards are very important to our success."

It was Queensland's poise and control under pressure - in particular half Thurston and skipper Darren Lockyer - which settled the game as NSW paid the ultimate price for their rookie gamble.

Winger Hayne, 19 and the second youngest Blue in history behind legend Brad Fittler, experienced the extreme highs and lows on his Origin debut with a classic try after the halftime siren had sounded before an all-time gaffe in the second stanza which handed Lockyer a match-winner in the 61st minute, reminiscent of his try to win the series in Melbourne last year.

Hayne, 19, scored an amazing try just on the break when he charged down Brent Tate's last gasp attempt to kick ahead on halfway, beat the tackle of Justin Hodges, chipped ahead of the cover defence and picked up the ball on the fly to runaway and score to silence the Queensland crowd.

But his dream debut turned horrendous on the hour when he threw a ridiculous pass back to fullback Anthony Minichiello when fielding a curling Cameron Smith kick for touch. The pass missed his teammate altogether and bounced straight to Lockyer who ran freely beneath the posts.

It was the only mistake in an otherwise flawless debut for Hayne, while Minichiello was close to best on ground for the Blues with a superb return to Origin football after missing last year with a back injury.

"What (Hayne) was doing was trying to do the best for the football team and you'll never get away from a player who is arguably doing what he thinks is the right thing and you've got to support him," said NSW coach Graham Murray.

"Inside him he has got to be upset though.

"It was pretty special (Hayne's try) wasn't it. He's a good talent and he took some big body hits out there tonight ... he certainly showed he is a real big player of the future."

Blues captain Danny Buderus denied his side "had got cocky" at the break, with Murray putting the loss down to the relentless momentum of Queensland in the second half.

"It was a relentless onslaught that second half," said Murray.

"We knew it was going to be tough and spoke about those things but we were just beaten by a better team tonight."

NSW had a halftime lead thanks to Nathan Hindmarsh's first Origin try in the 10th minute, rookie halfback Jarrod Mullen setting up Matt Cooper in the 20th minute and Hayne's halftime stunner.

Fellow Blues debutants Kurt Gidley and Brett White had rugged initiations to Origin. White's nose was busted with his first touch from a Tonie Carroll forearm and Gidley dislocated his left shoulder and was rushed to hospital after the game.

Willie Mason picked up a right hamstring strain, but Queensland rookie Antonio Kaufusi will probably miss the rest of the season with a snapped patella tendon in his right knee.

Queensland forward Nate Myles was charged with a grade one dangerous throw for his tackle on White in the 10th minute. He has pleaded guilty and will receive a two week ban.

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