The first three-game women's State of Origin series is headed to a decider after Queensland pulled off a miraculous come from behind victory in wet conditions at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium on Thursday.

The Maroons kept the series alive ahead of hosting game three in Townsville after Lauren Brown slotted a field goal with two minutes on the clock with the Sky Blues unable to have their dominance reflected on the scoreboard.

The opportunity came after Awabakal and Gamilaroi woman and hometown hero Caitlan Johnston made an unforced error, spilling the ball in a hit up attempt in shallow position in the Sky Blues' attacking half.

Johnston had put a strong performance together in testing conditions for the prop up until that point.

The 23-year-old bullied the Maroons with heavy hits amongst her 15 tackles and ran at more than 10 metres per carry with the football.

In testing conditions, the Blues added to a 6-nil halftime margin after a grinding first half when Tiana Penitani extended the difference to 10-4 with 12 minutes on the clock.

A missed conversion allowed Tarryn Aiken - when Lauren Brown added the extra points with the boot - to square things for the Maroons in the 64th minute.

The visitors sealed the win after Brown sailed a drop-goal over the black dot at the death.

Reigning Dally M Medallist, two-time Knights premiership player and Indigenous All Star Tamika Upton said her assist from dummy half to set up Brown was "worst pass possible" in pelting rain, speaking post match.

Upton said the Maroons "trusted the process" more effectively after going down 22-12 in game one last month.

"New South Wales really brought it. It was a tough slog. But we really stuck to our process," she said.

"Origin's not flashy stuff."

Upton said forcing a decider in the inaugural three-game women's series is "absolutely incredible" after taking honours on points in 2023.

"We saw what happened last year. We were all crying out for third game and the fact that it's actually going to a decider, and I'm sure Townsville will step it up, but Newcastle has been absolutely amazing," she said.

Co Māori and Indigenous All Stars representative Olivia Kernick was huge in a losing effort for the Sky Blues, running for 149 metres - 49 post-contact, and racking up 34 tackles in defence.

Game one hero Jaime Chapman was starved of opportunity with the ball, and played out the second half limping after coming down awkwardly on her leg contesting a high ball shortly after the break.

The Maroons host the Sky Blues in game three at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 27.