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Queensland has claimed the first-ever three-match women's State of Origin series with a wire-to-wire 22-6 victory over New South Wales in front of a sold-out crowd in Townsville.
But, with the shield up for grabs in Game III, Queensland finally got off on the right foot in a passage of play that came to sum up the game.
The Maroons kicked early, NSW lost the ball and were punished as Aiken sent Evania Pelite through a hole to score off the scrum in the second minute.
Evania Pelite stormed over for a try before the Sky Blues had completed a single play and the Maroons never looked back.(Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)
"I don't think we've ever started well in Origin," Queensland captain Ali Brigginshaw told ABC Sport after the game, an air of relief in her voice.
"We've always been on the back foot and I thought tonight we started well. It's been a long time coming, but we did it."
A penalty goal to Brown and Julia Robinson's try off another error in th greasy conditions from NSW fullback Emma Tonegato sent Queensland to half-time up 14-0.
The rain started falling even more heavily after the break, so when Brigginshaw nailed a 40/30 (kicking it long enough to be a 40/20) and Keeley Davis gave away a penalty right in front of the posts early in the second half, the Maroons took the free two points with both hands.
The lead was still only 16-0 when recalled Queensland prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi crashed over next to the posts, but the bunker confirmed she had dropped it over the line.
The Maroons aimed up in defence as the Sky Blues through everything at them, and it was only when Aiken tried to ice the game with a wide ball in the 59th minute that the Blues finally got on the board.
With the NSW defence shot to bits, winger Jaime Chapman made a desperate leap to snatch the pass out of the air, brushed off former Brisbane teammates Aiken and Tamika Upton and sailed 90 metres for her second long-range try of the series.
NSW tried to capitalise on the momentum, but the Maroons' scramble defence stifled a potential second-half comeback with some help from the crowd.
After the first two games of the series broke attendance records for Women's Origin, the third game was another sellout and it sounded like all 22,819 people in attendance were backing the local favourites as a booming "Queenslander!" chant rang out from the stands.
"It's unreal," player of the match Pelite told Channel Nine.
"To come from Newcastle [in Game II] … to now have a whole state coming out, it's amazing. You can't beat it."
After the Sky Blues missed out on a couple of chances with good field position, the Maroons went up the other end and Lenarduzzi linked with veteran back rower Tazmin Rapana to send her over in the 68th minute to ice the game and start the celebrations in earnest.
What a performance by this Queensland Maroons team that had led for less than two minutes of the series coming into tonight's game.
Their experience and connection showed from the opening minutes and they never took their foot off the Sky Blues, even when points weren't flowing.
New South Wales will go back to the drawing board to try to figure out how it all went so wrong for them after dominating the first game and leading Game II 10-4 with 10 minutes to go.
Kylie Hilder's side did themselves no favours tonight, with errors and a couple of silly penalties costing them badly.
But we have a proper contest now. Three games, an exciting decider, big crowds and we're never going back.
I can't wait for what's to come.
Just a reminder we are live blogging every weekend this season, we'll have live coverage of the men's decider on July 17, and the NRLW season is just around the corner, kicking off on July 25.
Plus, stay on ABC Sport to keep an eye on all the wash-up from tonight's game.
Thanks for your company and I'll see you next time!
Brigginshaw grateful for a chance to lift the shield after a decider
Queensland captain Ali Brigginshaw thanks the NRL for finally giving the women a three-game series.
"We've wanted this for so many years and finally we've been able to achieve it."
She tells the Sky Blues to hold their heads up after a hard-fought series.
"These two teams were part of something special."
And the rest of the team joins her on stage, including vice-captains Zahara Temara and Tamika Upton lifting the shield with her.
Shannon Mato wins the Nellie Doherty Medal
The Queensland Maroons prop ran for 150 metres tonight, more than a third of which came after contact.
She has a long embrace with coach Tahnee Norris on the stage.
She pays special tribute to her family and her brother particularly, who she has described as a father figure.
Queensland skipper praises her Maroons
(Getty)
Queensland halfback and captain Ali Brigginshaw praises her team for their staunch defence and a rare hot start with a try in the second minute and a 14-0 half-time lead.
"I don't think we've ever started well in Origin," she tells ABC Sport.
The connection with former Broncos teammate Tarryn Aiken was absolutely humming tonight and it was the biggest difference between the teams.
"Tonight we just clicked. It's been building. It's a privilege to play with her."
And on her brilliant, game-changing 40/30 (that was really a 40/20).
"That was my first ever 40/30 and in Origin, so I'll take it. Come off the boot sweet."
QUEENSLAND ARE STATE OF ORIGIN CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN!!
(Getty)
The siren sounds and the celebrations begin for this Queensland Maroons team that played a complete game of football tonight to wrap up a famous win in this first three-game women's series.
From the second-minute try by Evania Pelite through to the desperate defence at the end, tonight was the first game of the series where Queensland looked the better team not just for most of the game, but all 80 minutes.
Former Queensland captain Karina Brown is in tears in the ABC Sport commentary box.
"It makes me emotional," she says as she holds back the tears.
"I'm so proud of the girls. I know I'm supposed to be impartial, but…"
69' NSW is offside off the kick-off and the Maroons should end the game in possession
Chelsea Lenarduzzi takes another big charge. One more for the road for Big Chels.
TAZMIN RAPANA SEALS THE SERIES FOR QUEENSLAND!!
The Maroons charge downfield, Tamika Upton threatens, but in the clutch, on the last, Ali Brigginshaw gets into dummy half and hits Chelsea Lenarduzzi, who links with Brisbane teammate Tazmin Rapana short, and she barrels over to seal a famous win for Queensland.
65' The early kicking continues for Queensland, as NSW's leaves a lot to be desired
Ali Brigginshaw boots it long and in behind Jaime Chapman. It's a great tactic, perfectly executed. Even so, Chapman almost breaks free, but is held onto by Evania Pelite.
Meanwhile, the Sky Blues go up the other end and Rachael Pearson, for the third set in a row, ends it poorly on the last, this time with a kick to a completely unmarked Emma Paki.
64' NSW threatens and threatens and threatens, but the Maroons survive one more set
The Sky Blues are running out of chances as the "QUEENSLANDER!" chant goes up in Townsville.
It sounds like all 22,819 of them. Amazing scenes.
Jaime Chapman gives NSW life with a long-range intercept try
The Maroons have the Sky Blues absolutely shot after Tarryn Aiken brushes off the onrushing defence. She has a three-on-one and tries to fire a ball over the top to Julia Robinson, but Jaime Chapman leaps and intercepts on the bobble. She brushes off the tackle Aiken, and shakes off Tamika Upton, who dives for a desperate ankle tap early, and Chapman streaks 90 metres to score.
NSW is not done yet.
There are still 10 minutes left and we've seen momentum in each game in this series swing wildly.
58' Romy Teitzel rumbles to the line, but she's stopped short
Emma Tonegato is pinged for an illegal strip and tries to argue it was in the act of scoring, but Belinda Sharpe says no because she wasn't going to ground the ball yet.
57' The Maroons want more
Lauren Brown breaks through the middle of the field. Tarryn Aiken and Ali Brigginshaw back her up, and Tamika Upton earns them another set with a grubber that takes a deflection.
56' How about the scramble from the Maroons?!
I've lost count of the number of try-savers there.
One on Emma Tonegato, one on Kezie Apps, one on Jess Sergis, one on Caitlan Johnston and one on Corban Baxter. And all over the field to boot.
Stunning effort from this Queensland team, although the Sky Blues attack is lacking the pace it had in Games I and II.
52' EMMANITA PAKI! A new Queensland hero is born!
NSW spins it right and gives Jaime Chapman early ball and a runway out wide. But the young Maroons winger gets across, makes great first contact and sends the rampaging Sky Blue over the sideline.
I didn't know you were allowed to stop Jaime Chapman like that. No-one else seems to be able to.
I must say, Queensland was helped by glacially slow ball playing from NSW there. The Sky Blues look exhausted.
50' Lenarduzzi crashes over, but it's no try
Chelsea Lenarduzzi slams it down next to the posts, or so it seems, but she lost the ball over the line in the tackle of former Broncos teammate Millie Elliott, who's back on the field for th erratic Grace Kemp and having immediate impact.
49' NSW gives away another costly penalty
The Sky Blues put together their best defensive set of the game and Lauren Brown kicks long out of dummy half, but she's hit by Yasmin Clydsdale after the fact and gives away a penalty upfield.
48' Rush of blood from NSW
Rachael Pearson sees a bit of space after a Grace Kemp offload catches Queensland napping, and the NSW halfback tries to grubber through but no-one's chasing and Tamika Upton slides in to clean it up.
45' Grace Kemp is firing right up and she pays the price
A couple of errors from the big Raiders prop have her fuming and she's given Keilee Joseph a face shove after a tackle. And Belinda Sharpe penalises the firebrand for the "rubbish".
43' Back-to-back penalties for NSW but another mistake costs them
The Sky Blues are peppering the line as the rain thunders down.
They try to put on a slick play with Keeley Davis turning it behind for Corban Baxter, who fires a ball into the path of a charging Grace Kemp, but she can't handle in the we and she's not impressed with Baxter's pass it seems.
41' Both teams are NOT playing wet weather football
The Maroons are trying to fling offloads all over the shop, and the Blues are spinning the ball 20 metres off kick receptions.
No-one makes a mistake from it, but both come mighty close. I don't think Tahnee Norris or Kylie Hilder will be too impressed with that.
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