'Relentless': Phil Gould stunned as 'stellar' Jesse Southwell returns in style for NSW Blues

Jesse Southwell's maturity on the field was put on full display on Thursday as she helped lead NSW to victory and draw first blood in the women's State of Origin series.

Southwell was snubbed from the Origin arena last season but showed she had no intension of letting a similar situation unfold under new coach John Strange.

The 20-year-old's performance earned the praise of Phil Gould all night long as she engineered several back-to-back sets and try-scoring opportunities for NSW.

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An error from Ali Brigginshaw in the opening minute put Queensland immediately into defence as the Blues forced multiple back-to-back sets, courtesy of some Southwell kicking magic.

The hosts shifted towards the middle as they were stuck holding NSW players away from their line, before a hole opened on the edge for Jess Sergis to score.

Then, a sleek pass by the halfback to her skipper Isabelle Kelly to power over in what Gould described as a play that showed Southwell has "maturity beyond her years."

"Jesse Southwell play there for the ball to bounce and her not panic with defence running up in her face ... that's just maturity and composure beyond her years," he said.

"She was just so calm with it. The ball will hit the ground but she doesn't panic, comes up with a great pass and that creates the space."

Southwell continued to display her sensational form as she orchestrated an overlap close to the line for Kelly to set debutant Jayme Fressard over in the corner.

NSW's blitz was then marred by an eye gouging and hair pull incident, before Rory Owen pounced to narrow the margin for the Maroons to two points into half time.

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Injury concerns for Sergis and Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick were not enough to rattle the visitors as Fressard crashed over for her second on debut after Queensland's Togatuki made a mess of the play-the-ball.

"Dear oh dear... why does this happen?" Gould said.

"If I knew I would still be coaching."

Ellie Johnston crashed over in the 50th minute to join the try-scoring celebrations as Southwell successful nailed the conversion.

Nine errors in play to their rivals six began to catch up on the Maroons as an offside call set Southwell up to slot a penalty goal in front of the posts.

"They've been relentless the Blues ... this second half has been stunning, they've just flooded Queensland out of it," said Gould.

Allana Ferguson added: "They've gone back to their strengths with their kicking game.

"Jesse Southwell she has made this game her own from the first set of six."

The icing on the cake came when Southwell put Abbi Church over in the 64th minute.

"Some of her ball-playing tonight has been exquisite, really classy," Gould said of the young halfback's performance.

"She has had a stellar game tonight."

Queensland were kept scoreless for the entire second half as NSW celebrated, claiming the 1-0 lead in the Origin series.

The Maroons will be hopeful they can upset NSW on their own turf come May 15, when they travel to Allianz Stadium for the second match of the series.