They say State of Origin is about moments.
And Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans admits the Maroons botched a big one with a play-the-ball "lapse" before NSW sealed a series-clinching 26-20 win.
Cherry-Evans confirmed he was ready to cap another trademark Queensland comeback by kicking a series-deciding field goal in the dying moments of Origin III on Wednesday night.
After fighting back from 12 points down to level at 20-all, the stage was set for Cherry-Evans to be the hero in his debut series as captain after centre Moses Mbye's run put them in field goal position.
But inexplicably Mbye was slow to play the ball - and Cherry-Evans said their moment was quickly lost.
"I was definitely thinking it (field goal). We got into field position for it," Cherry-Evans said.
"The referee called time off but there was a bit of a slow play the ball there so my mindset was after that there was too much pressure (for a field goal), just put it in the corner and look at golden point.
"Rugby league can be a cruel game. After 79 minutes of focus we just had one lapse for one minute.
"Origin is made up of many moments. Unfortunately NSW had more bigger moments than us."
History shows NSW then seized their moment.
The Blues remarkably pulled off a final minute try by Wally Lewis Medal winner James Tedesco that will rival Queenslander Mark Coyne's "miracle" 1994 effort to seal back-to-back series for the first time since 2005.
But a shattered Queensland coach Kevin Walters refused to point the finger at Mbye.
"He was set to do it, I could see his body language," Walters said of Cherry-Evans' field goal that never was.
"Then we got a slow play the ball for some reason. He (Cherry-Evans) just ran out of time.
"I guess when you go for a field goal at that stage and you miss, you give up seven tackles and (give) the opposition a chance to get down your end and do something themselves.
"But I'm not going to be critical of anyone. I'm really proud."
