Danny Buderus was the last player to captain NSW to back-to-back State of Origin series wins and says incumbent skipper Boyd Cordner has the qualities to follow in his footsteps.
A 15-year Blues hoodoo goes on the line during Wednesday's series decider at ANZ Stadium, with Brad Fittler's men seeking to lift the Origin shield in successive years for the first time since 2005.
Back in 2006, then-Queensland coach Mal Meninga famously claimed the future of Origin was in jeopardy unless the Maroons could break NSW's three-year winning streak.
It was a rev-up which sparked eight years of Queensland dominance and the Blues have won just two series since - in 2014 and 2018.
In 2005 it was a Newcastle halfback in Andrew Johns who put Queensland to the sword, and the man who now wears the famous Knights No.7 jumper - Mitchell Pearce - has a chance to repeat his hero's deeds.
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Buderus skippered NSW from 2004-2008 but is now a part of Fittler's coaching staff. He said he sees something special in Cordner and the way he inspires his teammates.
"He leads with his actions," Buderus said.
"If you want people to follow, you've got to lead a certain way.
"You can't just be full of talk. He's got that sorted, when he needs to say something, it's timely, it's to the point."
Buderus said there was no rhyme or reason for Queensland's dominance over the past 15 years - they had just won the big moments with the series on the line.
He said the Blues still had a lot of improvement in them, even after thumping Queensland 38-6 in Perth.
"I've got no idea what's happened in the past," Buderus said.
"But those big moments in games, hopefully we'll control them on Wednesday night.
"Those effort areas that make big moments. As long as you own the moments that you need to stand up, you should get the win."
