The brilliance of Cody Walker has bamboozled Queensland to give NSW a respectful end to the State of Origin series - but it was too little too late for the Blues.
The NSW brains trust must ask themselves why the 33-year-old magician has played only three Origin games in his long career after he proved an inspired choice at No.6 in game three's 24-10 win in Sydney.
The Maroons won the series 2-1 on the back of getting their selections right when it really mattered.
For NSW the horse had already bolted.
Debutant centre Bradman Best, who had come through NSW's junior systems, was phenomenal in a two-try display.
The Blues got their starting team spot on, with Rabbitohs trio Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi all magnificent.
Walker set NSW alight and controlled his left edge as he always does for South Sydney but the series was already lost.
Maroons coach Billy Slater got it right when he picked rare talent Reece Walsh for the opening two matches of the series at fullback instead of Kalyn Ponga.
Slater got it right again when he went with the electrifying Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at centre rather than the veteran Dane Gagai.
The Maroons won the big moments when they counted.
In the 76th minute in game one in Adelaide it was Maroons prop Lindsay Collins who leapt the highest to snaffle a bomb and set up the winning try for Cameron Munster.
With the match in the balance just before halftime in game two in Brisbane it was Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans who raced 70 metres to tackle NSW centre Stephen Crichton in what was the match-turning moment.
Blues legend Paul Gallen said on Channel Nine before game three kicked off that Brad Fittler's message to the players was to "make a statement".
They certainly did that.
Fittler had the right cohort of players on the field on this occasion. If he gets another chance to coach NSW, making the correct calls at the start of the series will be the key.