Utter domination.

After five years of State of Origin supremacy, Queensland finally got their crowning glory at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

It wasn't the cakewalk many predicted, but Queensland's 23-18 win over NSW was enough to confirm the Maroons' first series clean sweep since Paul "Fatty" Vautin's 1995 over achievers.

For all their dominance of five straight series wins, this was what the Maroons wanted, a 3-0 "Maroon-wash".

Officials got their 61,259 fans they hoped for the dead rubber - but few other than the Maroon contingent in the south-east corner remained to watch Darren Lockyer lift the shield.

But a day shy of his 50th birthday, what a gift for Queensland coach Mal Meninga - the man who helped usher in Origin football on his 20th birthday.

While the scoreboard didn't indicate the supremacy, the manner of the win highlighted just why some rate this the greatest group to ever don the famous Maroon jumper.

This is a team that never gives up.

Down by five points with six minutes remaining, Queensland found the resolve.

They knew how much it hurt when they missed the clean sweep last year, and the Maroons weren't about to let a second chance slip by.

This is a Maroons team for the ages, but there were signs this Blues team - the most inexperienced since 2004 - had also come of age.

They didn't get the job done, but there is no shame in going down to this Queensland outfit, particularly not when the result isn't confirmed until the final hooter.

NSW proved Origin was alive and well, but as long as Lockyer, Thurston, Smith, Inglis and co are around, it will be far healthier north of the border.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP