Queensland's Carl Webb (top) takes issue with Luke Bailey of NSW

The Maroons led 19-0 after dominating the first 50 minutes of the game.

But champions NSW launched a storming fightback in front of a 52,484 crowd, scoring four tries in 22 minutes.

Johnathan Thurston's drop-goal on 78 minutes pulled the side's level at 20-20 before Bowen intercepted Brett Kimmorley's pass to score by the posts.

Queensland led 4-0 midway through the first half thanks to two penalties from Cameron Smith before scoring the game's first try.

Ty Williams touched down underneath the posts after Darren Lockyer's pass had ballooned forward off the left knee of Billy Slater.

We worked so hard to get back into to it... for that to happen is shattering NSW's Ben Kennedy

Referee Paul Simpkins, unsure whether Slater had handled the ball, asked the video official to rule whether the try was legitimate.

After several minutes, the score was given, Smith adding the conversion to open up a 10-0 lead.

That advantage deservedly became 13 points thanks to another Smith penalty and a Lockyer drop-goal.

And when the home side went further in front with a Michael Crocker try that was converted by Smith, the game looked beyond NSW.

Minichiello claims a high ball

But the Blues refused to throw in the towel and reduced the deficit when Luke Rooney went over in the left-hand corner on 53 minutes.

At 19-4, they still had their work cut out, but three tries - from Mark Gasnier, Craig Fitzgibbon and skipper Danny Buderus - in just nine minutes turned the game on its head.

But with two minutes left and NSW leading 20-19, Thurston squeezed over a drop-goal to take the match into extra-time before Bowen's dramatic score put the Maroons 1-0 up.

"It's certainly a bad feeling," said NSW's Ben Kennedy after the match. "We worked so hard to get back into to it. For that to happen is shattering.

"We've got plenty of spirit, we showed that. I can't believe it."

The second match is scheduled for 15 June in Sydney, with the third and final game back in Brisbane on 6 July.