Queensland's unbelievable 2017 State Of Origin series win will bring to an end the 'Immortal' phase as Johnathan Thurston bids official farewell to the representative scene.
Cooper Cronk is probably on his way out, Billy Slater has come within a whisker of saying he will do the same and Cameron Smith can't be far behind.
Those departures, plus the injury and rapid ageing of Greg Inglis, probably can't be understated, but the way forward seems infinitely clearer after the Maroons' stunning 22-6 win in the series decider at Lang Park.
Thurston's absence may barely be felt if Cameron Munster replicates his debut performance every night of what should be a long Origin career.
His selection proved a masterstroke as he slotted right in alongside his club teammates — primarily Smith, Cronk and Slater.
As a result of playing for the 'Melbourne Maroons' in his first representative outing, his debut performance was devoid of the sort of nerves that can ruin your night or even haunt a player for years.
Michael Morgan has grown a foot-and-a-half since pulling on maroon and becoming more than just JT's deputy.
Off the bench, he aims up in the forwards. Named in the starting line-up for the first time in the unfamiliar position of centre, he made the right call every time in attack and, more importantly, in defence.
And outside him, wingers Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai can't help but score tries, saying nothing of Corey Oates, who has never put a foot wrong for his state.
The question marks come in the forward pack.
Dylan Napa and Jarrod Wallace played exactly the way Queensland's starting props need to, doing just enough to match or beat NSW's pack, and Coen Hess looks ready-made for Origin even if he had few opportunities to show his wares.
But the depth is not there, and that's the good news for the Blues.
Blues must ride their draught horses
New South Wales is dripping with elite forwards, many of whom stepped up in this year's series.
Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham, Josh Jackson, Tyson Frizell and Aaron Woods all deserve plaudits for their series, as does skipper Boyd Cordner.
The NSW forwards won more of the series than Queensland's did, so what went wrong?
Not that much, honestly.
Each team won three halves of football in the series, but the Maroons' wins came at more important times and Origin, as it keeps proving, is all about winning the big moments.
A lack of composure has plagued these Blues for over a decade now and unfortunately there is one very tangible change they can make to address it.
Maybe the same NSW team can win next year, or maybe they will keep falling into the same traps time and time again.
Before this season I would have thought the former was true. After Game III, who knows?
Either way, NSW's dominance no longer looks assured and Queensland's new wave looks ready for prime time, so let's settle in and get set for 2018.
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