The 44-24 win at the MCG, breaking a 31-year Origin drought at the venue, was one for the true Maroons believers after everything that could possibly go wrong in the first half did.
The way razzle-dazzle halfback Sam Walker, freakish hat-trick winger Selwyn Cobbo and powerhouse utility Max Plath responded to a 10-point deficit will have the Blues quivering in their boots at the prospect of trying to win the series in Brisbane.
All three are aged 24 and have a decade of Origin ahead of them.
The bravery of prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, playing after the death of his father Fereti, will never be forgotten.
Ever since 1980 the Maroons have been masters of writing backs-against-the-wall narratives in Origin history. The "Miracle Try" of 1994, Paul Vautin's 1995 Neville Nobodies who won 3-0 against the odds, Darren Lockyer's late try to win the 2006 decider and Cameron Munster's courage in 2025 after the death of his father Steven to lead a historic 2-1 series win .... to name just a few.
The bones of the story were being written again with NSW on top with a 12-2 lead after 23 minutes with Fa'asuamaleaui off for a category two head knock.
How would they respond?
Munster was to soon to join him in the head bin but not before conjuring a moment of magic with a one-handed pass for Trent Loiero to score.
Queensland's second halves have been their issue in the past three Origins but not this time. After trailing 12-8 at the break they destroyed their opponents with 36 points of their own.
Plath came on and his link play in two tries was elite. He also made a mountain of tackles.
Walker had a few mishaps in the first half but the way he backed it up was astonishing. A no-look pass in the second half, from a well-rehearsed play, set up a try and had NSW legend Andrew Johns in awe.
He took charge and outplayed opposite number Nathan Cleary, delivering a compelling statement to his many critics who will now be silenced.
Cobbo has been the best winger in the game in the past two months. He was like Greg Inglis in his pomp down the left wing, creating and finishing with power and precision.
A lot of the talk before the match was about when coach Billy Slater would bring on Reece Walsh. He didn't need to.
The Blues had perhaps been worrying about when Walsh might arrive but forgot to take care of the rising superstars in front of their eyes.
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