Back-up Blues winger Teagan Berry came up with the game-winning and series-sealing defensive play in the final 30 seconds on Thursday night in Brisbane.
Queensland's Jasmine Peters looked to have levelled the scores reaching out on the right wing, but replays showed Berry had done just enough to push one of her boots into touch.
"I actually had full confidence in 'Flash', she's one of those players that will go right 'til the last minute," said NSW captain Isabelle Kelly.
"This jersey, she's going to be wearing it for a really long time, no matter what position she plays. She's incredible."
Peters' effort in the corner was to be the final chance for the Maroons, who have now lost all three women's Origin games played at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW have retained the Origin shield by going 2-0 up in the series, and they could become the first team to secure a 3-0 series sweep since the women's Origin series expanded to three games in 2024.
Berry's defensive masterstroke came after NSW halfback and player of the match Jesse Southwell made a similar try-saver on Peters earlier in the second half.
The set after receiving medical attention on an apparent neck injury, Southwell bundled Peters into touch up the other end of the field, denying her another would-be equaliser.
"(Southwell) is so loved within our team. There's so much respect for her and what she can do," Kelly said.
Queensland coach Nathan Cross rued a sloppy start that opened the door for NSW.
The Maroons were completing at an abysmal 38 per cent when Keeley Nizza crossed from dummy half for the Blues' second try and an 8-0 first-half lead.
"Errors killed us tonight - 16 errors, 57 per cent completion, you just can't win games of footy like that," Cross said.
"We just made it too hard on ourselves for most of the night, and to be fair, most of the series so far."
NSW veteran Jess Sergis played out a compelling one-on-one battle with her opposite centre Rory Owen.
Sergis threw the last pass for Jaime Chapman to score the Blues' first try from a short-side scrum play.
But as Queensland worked their way back into the game, Owen burst over after linking up with fullback Tamika Upton, who was at her busy best all night.
Jada Ferguson gave Queensland their first lead out of dummy half after the Maroons boldly declined the chance to level scores at 8-8 with a penalty goal.
Sergis put NSW ahead again, dummying to her right and barging through two defenders to score the Blues' decisive try on the fifth tackle.
The Maroons are confident of salvaging something from the series in game three at Cbus Super Stadium on May 28.
"Full credit to NSW, but I sit here and I don't feel that we got blown away by a heaps better footy team. I feel like that was a real game, that was a real series," Cross said.
"For us to take that next step, we've got to stop beating ourselves. That'll be our focus going into game three."
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