Repeated first-half efforts from attacking weapons Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo, and a player-of-the-match performance from Reuben Cotter, helped Queensland stage an odds-defying 26-18 win over NSW in the State of Origin opener in Adelaide on Wednesday.

The Maroons scored two later tries with 12 men on the park after Thomas Flegler was sent to the bin, Tabuai-Fidow and Cobbo becoming the heroes when the game hung in the balance.

A sensational effort to stay in touch from Queensland winger Selwyn Cobbo put Queensland's noses in front in the 57th minute.

When a NSW mistake gave Queensland a set of six deep in their attacking half, Cobbo scored his second after managing to avoid spilling over the right sideline after the Maroons given away the lead shortly after half time.

Cobbo slides in for his second! ✌#Origin pic.twitter.com/OFWCzumkey

— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2023

Queensland led 16-12 after Valentine Holmes converted.

Cobbo was unlucky to spill an attempted intercept in the 65th minute with 95 metres of empty space ahead of him.

The Maroons later gave way after repeated sets on their own line, Latrell Mitchell's late replacement Stephen Crichton crossing over on the left side.

Nathan Cleary converted to put NSW up 18-16 with 13 minutes on the clock.

Reigning Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes finally got his first taste of Origin football late in the game.

A two-part tackle on the same play denied Queensland's left edge from clawing back the lead.

Hynes grabbed hold of Reece Walsh and Murray Taulagi within fractions of a second to keep the Maroons from scoring in the best piece of his limited game time.

Taulagi was later taken from the ground for a head assessment following the incident.

Tabuai-Fidow would step forward to sink NSW hearts in the 74th minute before Cameron Munster put the finishing touches on a miracle win in the dying stages.

HERE COMES THE HAMMER 🔥#Origin pic.twitter.com/quCX9U5pf6

— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2023

"I can't express this feeling..It's an unreal feeling," Tabuai-Fidow said after the match.

"We all have trust and we all believe in each other"

"We stuck in and we scored a couple of tries and just never gave up."

In his post match press conference, Queensland coach Billy Slater had nothing but confidence in the incoming replacement for veteran Dane Gagai.

"It didn't surpise me how Hammer (Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow) played tonight," Slater said.

Tabuai-Fidow lead Queensland with ball in hand running 147 metres.

Slater and Maroon's captain Daly Cherry-Evans had similar things to say for star debutant Reece Walsh.

The 20-year-old came into the Queensland squad after a breakout start to the 2023 season after crossing from the Warriors.

"He's got so much substance to his game outside of the highlights," Slater said.

"We all love watching Reece Welsh pull the trigger on a pass or his blistering speed or involvement in the game but he's building a foundation to his game that's going to hold him in good stead for a long period of time.

"And that's what I've seen. That's what I've liked, and that's why he's here."

Cherry-Evans said he was great when he was in the game, and "wanted to be in the game when he wasn't (in it)".

In a somewhat under the radar performance (in terms of scoring) Boigu Island man Reuben Cotter walked away as player of the match after 48 tackles.

The Maroons stare down a series win with game two set for Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on June 21.