A 78th-minute try to the returning Tedesco helped the Blues to a gripping 22-20 home victory Wednesday night after Queensland's superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga was sent off by referee Ashley Klein for a shoulder charge on Tolu Koula.
Ponga's moment of madness handed NSW an avenue back into the contest when the Maroons were leading 20-6 with 58 minutes gone and stunned fans unusually silent at Accor Stadium.
While Cleary and Tedesco claimed the headlines, Strange was the catalyst for the Blues comeback.
The Canberra young gun crossed for a try before official man-of-the-match Cleary kicked a pressure 40/20 and followed his halves partner over for a 71st-minute try against a depleted and exhausted Queensland side.
Tedesco soared high above Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to spectacularly reel in an all-or-nothing Cleary bomb to touch down late on with the halfback's conversion giving the Blues victory.
"You're never going to get too many opportunities to put on plays that look good, which you might do in the NRL," said jubilant Blues coach Daley.
"It's about fighting and it's about hunger and it's about having a crack."
Strange was expecting to start on the bench until Tuesday morning when first-choice five-eighth Mitchell Moses was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Strange came to life after Ponga's send-off, making several cavalier runs, scoring a try and having another chalked off.
Moses may well be fit for game two in Melbourne on June 17 but Strange has given Daley something to ponder.
Despite several league greats questioning Ponga's send-off, Queensland coach Billy Slater had no issue with the decision.
"I haven't got any problems with it," Slater said.
"He (Ponga) obviously feels he's let his team down, but those things happen in games."
Slater is now facing an uphill battle to help Queensland retain the series, with the Maroons hosting game three in Brisbane on July 8.
The team that has won Origin I has gone on to win the series 70 per cent of the time.
"It's natural to feel heartbroken and disappointed, but we won't be throwing the baby out with the bath water," Slater said.
"I'm really proud. We went down on the scoreboard but I think Queensland will be proud of their side."
Rookie Maroons No.7 Sam Walker was magnificent for Queensland and had a hand in everything the Maroons did right in the first half, laying on the opening try for Rob Toia and the second for Tom Flegler.
Tabuai-Fidow dived on a Cameron Munster grubber-kick and Walker converted all three tries and nudged a penalty goal to put the Maroons in the boxseat.
Cleary set up Hudson Young for the only NSW try of the first half to trail 20-6 at halftime.
The Blues were given a window back into the game when Ponga became the seventh player to be sent off in Origin history with 23 minutes to go.
Strange went to work, crabbing and bouncing his way downfield to score a try and give NSW hope.
Cleary then stepped up with his magical 40/20 and a 71st-minute try to cut Queensland's lead to four points before setting up Tedesco's winner.
Tedesco had blown an overlap earlier in the game but was able to claim and regather a Cleary bomb to draw the Blues level in his first Origin game in two years.
Cleary then nudged the conversion to seal victory.
"I get disappointed with the narrative that's driven (around Cleary) he's a champion," Daley said.
"He's still got a lot of footy left to play and he was reminiscent of the (2023) grand final. He was phenomenal.
"I don't think we played anywhere near what we're capable of doing so that puts us in a better frame of mind when we waltz back into camp in game two."
