MITCHELL Pearce buried his State of Origin demons as NSW beat Queensland 26-20 at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night to win the showpiece series 2-1.
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In a thrilling decider, man-of-the-series James Tedesco scored his second try of the night less than 30 seconds from full-time to break a 20-all deadlock and clinch back-to-back titles for the Blues.
For Pearce, recalled for his 19th Origin game, it was his first series victory, 11 years after he debuted for the Blues as a teenager.
His NSW teammates included fellow Knights David Klemmer and Daniel Saifiti, who started together in the front-row.
NSW appeared home and hosed midway through the second half when they led 20-8, only for Queensland to launch a remarkable fightback that appeared certain to take the game to golden point.
Then Blues winger Blake Ferguson burst clear from deep inside his own territory and Tedesco supported to break Queensland hearts.
Scores were locked 8-all after a bruising, brutal opening half that was punctuated by 12 penalties.
NSW opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Klemmer won a play-the-ball penalty, which five-eighth James Maloney turned into a 2-0 lead.
Queensland responded nine minutes later with the game's first try, after debutant Corey Norman stabbed a kick into NSW's in-goal and back-rower Felise Kaufusi won the race to ground it.
A conversion from rookie back-rower Ethan Lowe, followed by a penalty goal, gave the visitors an 8-2 advantage.
The Blues swung the momentum in the 35th minute when prop Paul Vaughan crashed over to score from close range.
Tedesco produced a game-breaking moment of magic in the 52nd minute when he used his pace and strength to score out wide.
The Blues appeared in control when hooker Damien Cook exploded into open space in the 60th minute and beat Queensland fullback Cameron Munster to score.
In typical fashion, the Maroons hit back with tries by lock Josh McGuire and prop Josh Papalii in the last 10 minutes, to set up a cliff-hanging finish.
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