Queensland retained their State of Origin crown by the narrowest of margins as they defeated New South Wales 21-20 in the series decider in Brisbane.
Cooper Cronk landed a long-range drop-goal five minutes from time to seal a thrilling victory as the Maroons secured a record seventh straight triumph over their old rivals.
Brett Morris scored an early try to put New South Wales ahead and brother Josh then came up with a dramatic effort of his own ten minutes from time as the Blues drew level courtesy of a fantastic conversion from Todd Carney.
But Queensland, for whom Darius Boyd, Johnathon Thurston and Justin Hodges all crossed, had the final word as Cronk produced his sweet late strike.
The one-pointer proved enough to settle a titanic contest that was a fitting finale to a tremendous series, though once again it is the men in maroon who come out on top in front of a raucous crowd at Suncorp Stadium.
The Blues, in truth, were second best for much of the 80 minutes but battled bravely to keep the dream alive, even when they surrendered an eight-point lead to trail 16-8 at the break.
After it had taken less than two minutes for tempers to flare between the two teams, Carney kicked a penalty to break the deadlock and then converted from out wide after Brett Morris had burrowed his way over in the left corner.
Queensland could have been stunned into submission when they found themselves behind against the run of play. Instead, though, they simply rolled up their sleeves to cross three times without reply.
Boyd finished under pressure on the left flank to get the home side on the board, and the turning point in the contest seemed to come when the Maroons breached the Blues' line twice more shortly before the break.
Firstly Thurston finished off an attacking opportunity that he had initially started with a superb dummy inside his own half, then Justin Hodges was somewhat controversially awarded a score that the Blues felt should have been ruled out for obstruction in the build-up.
Robbie Farah's grubber set up Brett Stewart for a vital try early in the second half that kept New South Wales alive, though a pair of Thurston penalties meant the gap was out to six points with 10 minutes to play.
Yet the Blues simply refused to go away, conjuring up an astonishing effort to draw level. Hooker Farah again was the catalyst with his left boot, angling a flat kick to the right corner that Josh Morris somehow managed to cling onto under pressure from Boyd.
Carney's touchline conversion made it 20-20 but, just as it seemed the Maroons' dynasty could be set to end, Cronk - the man who was given a starting berth following the retirement of the legendary Darren Lockyer last year - kept his nerve to land the match-winner from 40 metres out.
The visitors had a desperate attempt to force a golden-point period, only their drop goal didn't find the target; they had fallen short by the slenderest of margins at the end of a titanic series. Despite all their efforts, Blue is still not quite the colour in Origin football.