Queensland credited a new State of Origin style fighting spirit for galvanising the Bulls to secure a controversial Sheffield Shield victory at the Gabba.
The home side bounced back to win a widely-fluctuating, low-scoring affair against Tasmania by 48 runs late on day three after being dismissed for an embarrassing 62.
Despite being upset at the state of the wicket, the Tigers stormed back into the game on the back of 5-14 from 12 venomous overs by former Australian one-day paceman Ben Hilfenhaus who initially reduced Queensland to 8-34.
Then chasing 193 for victory and with thick cloud cover that had tailored perfect swing bowling conditions lifting, Tasmania seemed to be cruising to at 1-55 and then 4-100.
But the Bulls pace attack rallied both times for the pendulum to swing back and forth in one of the most bizarre games seen in Brisbane. The Tigers were bowled out for 144.
New skipper Chris Simpson felt the result showed how last season's wooden-spooners had rediscovered the tenacity of their glory years when Queensland won six titles from 1995 to 2006.
"That's what we spoke about in the off-season, to try and develop the aura the rugby league State of Origin team have, back against the wall and regardless of the situation, being able to pack some punches and win," Simpson said.
"That's a tribute to the faith and belief that Tank (coach Trevor Barsby) has installed in us and hopefully it's a new beginning."
Simpson also believed the win, achieved with his batsmen failing in both innings, would send a message to interstate rivals.
"Given we think we've got a very strong batting line-up which did absolutely nothing this match and we got a good win on the board I think that's going to produce a lot of chills around the place for other teams," he said.
Tigers coach Tim Coyle's temper flared due to the uneven nature of the contest during the match, with the conditions overwhelmingly favouring the bowlers, but the visitors did get to bowl when batting was at its most difficult.
Tasmanian captain Dan Marsh refused to comment about the Gabba pitch and two crucial last-day umpiring decisions which went against Travis Birt (24) and Tim Paine (16).
Curator Kev Mitchell jnr defended his strip, saying overcast conditions, humidity and intermittent drizzling rain had mostly created the lethal mix for batsmen.
"The pitch and preparations were no different to the same (season-opening) game last year except the only difference was we had four days of heat and the match was a draw," he said.
Marsh rued the inability of his bowlers to keep their footing in the slippery day-one conditions as they plugged away in the wet when the home side was in trouble at 8-91.
Highlighting the strange nature of the match, Queensland's six points were earned on the back of a tailend seam bowler's batting and sealed with the bowling of an opening batsman.
The Bulls would never have had a three-figure target to defend if not for the day-one heroics of No.10 batsman Chris Swan, who belted an unbeaten 76 to lift them to 236.
It was Swan again who, aided by Ashley Noffke, ensured they would avoid a record low total by getting past the worst-ever 49 against Victoria at the MCG in 1936-37.
Then it was all-rounder James Hopes, who failed with the bat in his first match as opener, who sealed the win with 4-22 with the ball.