NSW have killed off their decider hoodoo after rising from the canvas to seal a State of Origin series win for the ages.
In the lead-up, much was made of Queensland's ability to land the killer blow when a series was on the line.
But the Blues won back-to-back series for the first time since 2005 after James Tedesco crossed for one of the great Origin tries, with just 32 seconds on the clock in game three for a famous 26-20 win at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday.
Since Origin's inception 39 years ago, Queensland had won 13 deciders - including the last seven straight - with NSW victorious in four.
Even in NSW, the Maroons held a 4-2 record with another series drawn.
But the Blues finally shed their reputation of wilting when the pressure was on.
Mitchell Pearce lofted a floating cut-out ball for Tom Trbojevic before Blake Ferguson sent Tedesco jinking for the try-line.
NSW led 20-8 with 20 minutes remaining but it looked like a decider would once again go to script for the Maroons as they charged back into the contest with tries to Josh McGuire and Josh Papalii to even the score at 20-20.
But just when the game looked headed for golden point, the much-maligned Pearce came to the fore and Tedesco sealed his place in Blues' folklore, and the Wally Lewis Medal.
Tedesco was immense, crossing for two tries, running for 222 metres. He also made four line breaks and broke 10 tackles.
With the Maroons farewelling the likes of Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater in recent years, for the first time in a long time, the Blues can lay claim to having the world's best player.
Unlike game two, the Maroons' forwards were not overawed and held their own against the Blues.
Papalii was immense in his two stints and stood up to Blues opposite David Klemmer (115m, 21 tackles).
Unfortunately for NRL head of football Graham Annesley, referees Gerard Sutton and Ashley Klein will once again find themselves in the spotlight for blowing 12 first-half penalties.
The pair were panned by both sides, however only blew their whistle twice in the second-half.
"The referees are interfering with the game too much tonight," former Blues coach Phil Gould said on the Nine Network coverage.
Former Maroons coach Paul Vautin agreed, adding: "They're going to ruin the game if they keep it up."
The stop-start game favoured the Maroons but once the game was allowed to flow, the likes of Tedesco and Damien Cook put their stamp on the contest.
