A clutch field goal from Lauren Brown has sealed Queensland's unlikely 11-10 defeat of NSW in the second State of Origin match and sent the inaugural women's three-match series to a decider in Townsville.
Convincing winners in game one last month, the Sky Blues had dominated the majority of Thursday night's clash in Newcastle, played before a record crowd of 25,782 fans in pouring rain.
But after five-eighth Tarryn Aiken scythed through with nine minutes to play, bamboozling the Blues' game-one player of the match Yasmin Clydsdale, Queensland were on their way to levelling the scores against the odds.
At 10-10, star NSW prop Caitlan Johnston turned possession over in the final minutes carting the ball out of the Sky Blues' half, allowing the Maroons to position themselves for a game-winning shot.
Veteran utility Brown stepped up and nailed her strike from 25 metres out, keeping the series alive with a stunning shot for field goal.
To make matters worse for NSW, inspirational centre Jess Sergis may need to prove her fitness for game three on June 27 after playing through the pain of two separate leg injuries.
Queensland halves Aiken and Ali Brigginshaw each created a try seemingly from nothing as the Maroons clawed back after a 6-0 first-half from NSW that felt more dominant than the scoreline suggested.
Halfback Rachael Pearson had outgunned superstar Brigginshaw in the kicking battle on the Queenslander's return to the halves, while the Sky Blues middle, led by Johnston, was far more damaging than the visitors'.
But when Brigginshaw drew Isabelle Kelly in-field with her cut-out pass, Shenae Ciesiolka dived over for a try that put the Maroons back in the game at 6-4 in the 54th minute.
Fighting through pain, Sergis stole the ball from Julia Robinson as Queensland were coming out of trouble in a play that turned the momentum back to NSW.
Only two tackles later, the Sky Blues had shifted left, a cut-out ball from Corban Baxter sending Tiana Penitani over for a try that appeared to put NSW back on the path to victory.
But the Maroons refused to die, marching upfield to tie the scores and then win the game against the odds.
Maroons prop Shannon Mato went on report for pulling Yasmin Clydsdale's ponytail as she attempted to tackle the NSW second-rower in the first half.
Keilee Joseph could join her teammate in attracting scrutiny from the match review committee; the Queensland forward wrapped her arm around Sergis' neck in a high tackle just before halftime and could consider herself lucky to have remained afield.
Sergis appeared to hurt her left leg in the tackle, and then needed attention to her right when she fell awkwardly contesting a Pearson kick in the second half.