Referee Ashley Klein proved to NSW coach Brad Fittler that he was willing to penalise Queensland after he sent Maroons back-rower Felise Kaufusi to the sin bin in State of Origin II in Perth.
Fittler had been critical of Klein's officiating during Origin I, accusing the referee of allowing Queensland to stray offside and slow down the ruck.
But Klein showed he had the mettle when Kaufusi was sent for a 10-minute spell late in the first half.
On the following set the Blues scored through Brian To'o to take a 14-12 lead at the break.
Klein had penalised the Maroons for a quartet of infringements late in the first half when NSW were camped on Queensland's line.
Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans twice handed NSW fresh sets of six, while hooker Harry Grant gifted one to the Blues with his attempts to slow down the ruck.
It was the fourth which prompted Klein to lay down the law when Kaufusi was part of a tackle to halt NSW prop Junior Paulo on the line.
Kaufusi lay over Paulo for the best part of 10 seconds, prompting Klein to send the Maroons back-rower for a 10-minute spell on the sidelines.
Former NSW coach Phil Gould took issue with Klein's decision, claiming the official should have put the Maroons on a team warning
"I hate sin bins at the best of times, let alone in Origin," he told the Nine Network.
"I don't think there was ever a warning here. The fact that there are six-agains and not penalty kicks for goal means they are giving them away like Smarties.
"You don't need it. It is Origin football."
Former Maroons coach Paul Vautin added: "It's a gee-up, no-one knows what they are for."
