After finally ending Queensland's quest for a decade of dominance, NSW players believe they can create their own State of Origin dynasty.
Trent Hodkinson's 71st-minute try sealed a 6-4 win for the Blues and an emotional first series win since 2005 in front of more than 84,000 fans at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday.
The last time that happened Bob Carr was still running NSW, John Howard was prime minister and Mariah Carey had warbled her way to the top of the charts with the uncatchy We Belong Together.
Blues back-rower Greg Bird, who made his debut in 2007, is now confident after so much heartache over the last nine years that it's NSW's turn to rule the roost.
"That's the thing with Origin football it does go in waves," Bird said.
"Through the 80s it was all Queensland, the 90s and early 2000s it was NSW and then Queensland again.
"Hopefully the dynasty can switch hands once more and we can win a few.
"But it's going to be a lot of hard work and even starting from next game they're not going to lie down."
The Blues will head to Suncorp Stadium on July 9 aiming for a first 3-0 whitewash since 2000 and prop James Tamou said although the series had been won, creating a consistent winning culture was vital to more success.
"It's important for us to put that exclamation point on the whole series just to show there's a wind of change," Tamou said.
"That's the proposition we've instilled in the players. It's a start and it's a change and it's going to be a big change.
"Queensland have had that belief for such a long time and now we have it inside us. We're happy to take control of it and take it wherever it can go."
In addition to satisfying a success-starved state, NSW's victory helped soothe some personal demons for several members of the side.
Vice-captain Robbie Farah lost his mother to cancer just four days after she watched him help the Blues level the series in 2012.
He's admitted in the past how emotional he feels when he pulls on the Blues jersey at ANZ Stadium. It always reminds him of that awful week.
Talismanic skipper Paul Gallen has for the past 18 months been caught in the crossfires of uncertainty surrounding the long-running ASADA investigation.
And for match-winner Hodkinson, the greatest moment of his career comes less than two years after he seriously considered retirement due to a serious knee injury.
"Everyone's got their own story and there's a lot of passion within the side," Farah told AAP.
"We wanted it so bad and said before the game, `it ends tonight. Enough's enough'.
"We deserve this. We've worked so hard for it. The last few years we haven't got what we deserved, we've fallen just short. But we've finally got what we deserved and we worked our butts off for it."
Farah revealed the team adopted the mantra of "it ends now" throughout their Coffs Harbour camp after so many near misses.
"It's been our catch cry the whole time," he said.
"Now is our time and enough's enough, it's been a long eight years.
"We've been through all the tough times, fallen just short and you never forget all those demons in your head about all the previous losses.
"But we can finally put those demons to bed tonight."
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