Instead it was heart-breakingly plucked out of the air by Queensland's Dane Gagai, who promptly raced 95 metres to score a go-ahead try for the Maroons, giving his side a 12-8 lead with about 15 to go at Suncorp Stadium.

With NSW down a man after Latrell Mitchell was sin-binned for taking Matt Gillett off a kick at the other end Wighton, who sensationally entered the fray after Blues coach Brad Fittler hooked South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker, skipped the outside of Will Chambers down the left edge.

Gagai jammed in from his wing but held off making contact, instead reading Wighton's slightly held-up pass perfectly to pluck in from Addo-Carr's waiting arms, he never looked like being caught in the sprint either.

While one moment like that never truly decides a game, combined with Latrell Mitchell's sin-binning that resulted in an equalising penalty goal not long prior to did help swing momentum back in favour of the Maroons.

Kalyn Ponga sent man-of-the-match Gagai over again with a stunning bullet pass just minutes later and nailed the kick too, turning a two-point deficit into a 10-point lead in the blink of an eye.

Jake Trbojevic did cross for the Blues in the 75^th minute to set up a grandstand finish but the Maroons held on to seal their game one victory, and give themselves to chance to wrap up a 12^th series win since 2006.

"I just couldn't get it into Addo-Carr's hands. It's definitely one I should have held but I thought I was doing the right thing," Wighton told Sporting News, reliving the moment after the game.

"I saw Gagai's body linger and thought I had Chambers beat. He read it well and took off last second.

"It was shattering. I went for the big play and backed my instincts and I've got to live with that.

"But I always back my instincts."

Fittler was diplomatic regarding the intercepted offload after the 18-14 defeat, mainly because he was impressed with Wighton's impact in his 25 minutes from the bench, which he spent shifting between five-eighth and centre.

"I think Jack did a brilliant job. It's a shame he threw an intercept but I thought prior to that his runs were great," Fittler said.

Wighton will now face a nervous wait to see if he's retained for game two, although Fittler did baulk at suggestions he may need to make changes for the second game of the series at Perth on Sunday, June 23.

He did make it clear the incumbents need to go back to the NRL and prove their worth though.

"They have to go back and play for their club. Our theory has always been blokes who play well for their club (get picked)," he said.

"I really expect them to go back and play well for their club."

Still, Fittler admitted they had some work to do to wrestle back momentum after Queensland reeled in an 8-nil, half-time deficit to draw first blood on Wednesday night.

"They missed the occasion. There was a lack of communication, a bit of panic that I didn't see much of last year," Fittler said.

"You get to games and feel like you are part of a wall and there times you get to games and think you are on your own - it just felt at stages they felt like they were on their own."

Along with Gagai, Ponga and Cameron Munster were superb for the Maroons while David Klemmer and Damien Cook were the Blues' best, while James Tedesco was strong in the opening half as well.