Master coach Wayne Bennett has done it again, inspiring his Queensland underdogs to a remarkable 18-14 defeat over NSW at Adelaide Oval.

The Blues simply had no answers for the rampaging Maroons in the second half, as a mounting error count and lack of cohesion between halves Nathan Cleary and Luke Keary cost NSW any chance of victory.

After fullback AJ Brimson scored his first Origin try on debut, the floodgates opened when Xavier Coates and then Cam Munster crossed to give the Maroons an 18-10 lead.

A late try to Josh Addo-Carr gave NSW a chance, but Queensland held strong in the dying minutes with Felise Kaufusi in the sin bin to seal victory in the first of the three-match series.

The loss was soured by a leg injury to Blue Cam Murray, who lasted just one tackle on Wednesday night.

And there are serious concerns for the ongoing health of Blues skipper Boyd Cordner who again sent a concussion scare through the camp.

Cordner missed seven games for the Roosters this year due to his ongoing battle with headaches, but was passed fit to return to the clash.

Billed as the most one-sided contest in more than 20 years with Queensland blooding eight fresh faces, it was the Maroons who started the better of the two sides.

With a mountain of possession in the first 20 minutes and the first attempt at points, a missed penalty by skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, Queensland were on top early.

But it was the brilliance of NSW hooker Damien Cook as he regathered his own kick and beat Cherry-Evans in a one-on-one tackle for first points in the match.

Cleary added the extras and when Josh Addo-Carr scored minutes later, NSW had shot out to a 10-0 lead and all the early possession counted for nothing for Queensland.

Kurt Capewell, named as a late replacement for injured centre Brenko Lee, brought the Maroons back into the match in the second half.

He fended off Clint Gutherson before putting in a chip kick that ended in the hands of Brimson and suddenly the Maroons had a sniff.

When Dane Gagai beat Jack Wighton and turned Blues fullback James Tedesco inside out, Coates put Queensland in front.

Munster pounced on a loose offload from Daniel Tupou to add another try and suddenly it was the Blues fighting to stay in the match.

And as the panic set in, the Blues had no answers.

Queensland takes a one-nil lead in the best-of-three series with game two next Wednesday.