New South Wales great Brad Fittler led his side to a 22-12 defeat of Queensland in his first game in charge, taking a step towards ending the Maroons' State of Origin dominance.
Fittler is the Blues' most capped player, starring in an era when NSW were regularly on top, but he must now break up a Queensland dynasty - 11 titles in 12 years - as a coach.
Advertisement
And there were encouraging signs for a new-look outfit in Melbourne, as star man James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr all contributed tries.
Queensland were evidently still ironing out the creases of their own transitional period, playing without retired trio Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, as well as the injured Billy Slater.
But the Maroons could well have landed the first blow in 2018 had they been able to build on a strong spell either side of the interval in which Valentine Holmes and injury doubt Dane Gagai both crossed.
It is an uphill task now for the defending champions.
With vast changes in personnel on both sides from last year's series, a fast and furious start was error-strewn, as evidenced by the manner of the early scores.
James Maloney was at the fore, with the Blues five-eighth kicking a penalty and then teeing up Tedesco to storm away for the opening try, just moments after a costly Will Chambers fumble at the other end.
But Queensland, sloppy until then, were gifted a score of their own by Maloney. A stray pass allowed Holmes to nip in and streak away upfield to slide under the posts.
The Maroons hit their stride late in the first half and, although they could not overturn an 8-6 deficit before the break, the momentum carried into the second period.
Just three minutes after the restart, Queensland were in front. Ben Hunt's grubber kick sliced through New South Wales for Gagai to pounce, before Holmes kicked the extras from a narrow angle.
That blow merely awoke the Blues from their slumber, however, and the response was immediate.
Mitchell fought through three tackles to turn the ball over the line and draw level, before Trbojevic beat Holmes in the air from Maloney's kick to add another try.
New South Wales retreated back into their shell, but a lightning Tedesco counter allowed the impressive Addo-Carr to break free on the left and lunge in the corner, sealing victory as Fittler prepares to take his side home for game two.
