New South Wales have avoided a State of Origin series whitewash with a 24-10 win over Queensland at Accor Stadium.
After losing the first two matches, the new-look Blues finally gave the hometown fans something to cheer about with an encouraging win.
Debutant Bradman Best crossed for a double, with his second the only try in the second half to quash any potential threat of a Maroons comeback.
Best was denied a try with his very first touch inside the first three minutes, after the bunker ruled the centre offside in his chase of man-of-the-match Cody Walker's grubber.
Instead, it was Queensland that struck first, with David Fifita muscling his way over after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow tapped back a Cameron Munster kick.
But the Blues hit back almost immediately, with winger Brian To'o crossing in the right corner to pull one back.
A Stephen Crichton penalty goal pushed the Blues in front, before another try to Josh Addo-Carr further extended their lead.
NSW made all their pressure count with another four-pointer, with Best crashing over for his debut try with Walker instrumental in the lead-up.
But Queensland refused to go away in an action-packed first half, with Tabuai-Fidow pulling off a brilliant grubber and regather to stun the Blues.
Another Crichton penalty goal gave NSW a 18-10 halftime lead, with the second half a much tighter affair with less try-scoring opportunities.
The highlight came in the form of one of several dangerous runs by Blues skipper James Tedesco, who found Best in support for his second try.
NSW held onto the 14-point lead to win the match, and salvage a 2-1 series defeat against their State of Origin arch-rivals.
NSW 24 (Best 2, Addo-Carr, To'o tries; Crichton 2 con, 2 pen) Queensland 10 (Fifita, Tabuai-Fidow tries; Holmes 1 con)
