Two sensational plays involving fullback Billy Slater, a desperate charge-down smother by prop Steve Price and a controversial refereeing decision defined the final moments of the thrilling finale as Queensland held on to win 16-10.

The Maroons skipped ahead in the 68th minute when man-of-the-match Jonathan Thurston raced through the defence before Slater drove a dagger into the heart of NSW by racing away to score.

Slater also came up with a brilliant pick-up off a Mitchell Pearce kick before Price defused another attacking raid from the rookie Blues No 7 when he raced out of the line to charge the ball down, allowing the Maroons to regather.

With NSW pushing one last time to level the scores, Braith Anasta threw a sweeping pass across to the left, only for it to be called back by referee Tony Archer.

Replays showed the decision on the flat pass was harsh; it was enough to take the pressure off the Maroons and allow them to hold out for their third straight series win.

The game developed into a war, with two major blow-ups between the teams, including a fiery clash in the second half when Blues prop Ben Cross was landed on his head in a tackle by Nate Myles.

Myles was placed on report by Archer, but only after a fierce stand-off between both sets of players.

NSW led 10-8 at the break from a try to St George Illawarra centre Matt Cooper and two penalty goals and a conversion from Craig Fitzgibbon.

The Maroons levelled the scores in the 46th minute, with Thurston slotting a penalty goal.

Three minutes earlier, the Blues were denied a try referred to the video referee.

After Illawarra won the Centenary Trophy in the curtain-raiser, Shellharbour junior Cooper continued the South Coast flavour when he bolted on to a Kurt Gidley pass to race to the tryline in the 15th minute.

It put NSW 8-4 ahead after Fitzgibbon's conversion.