Before then, only twice in the 35-year-old history of the concept has one State managed even a series three-peat, both of them by NSW in 1992-94 and 2003-05.
That early 1990s era will always bring back painful memories because at the impressionable age of 11-13, growing up in Nelson, my classmates were evenly split between Blue and Maroon every June.
I had enough pubescent volatility going on without letting a few smart-mouthed NSW backers have something to hold over me for a few weeks.
Like many 'neutral' Kiwis, I too have my Origin story from when I picked my side for rugby league's great 'Civil War'.
My initial connection was through having expat relatives who live in Brisbane, and then I became hooked tuning in back in 1991 to watch the 'King' Wally Lewis bow out a winner with a highly-bagged underdog Queensland team after three straight games decided by two points, amongst all the brilliant flair and fisticuffs.
To me, that was always the par excellence of Origin football - its unpredictable nature - two super teams so evenly matched that every moment be it a tackle, line break, pass, or referee call will have the lasting repercussion that resonates for the next twelve months until we do it all again.
There are only three games - 240 minutes plus any 'golden point' extras - in which to make those moments.
Today, an All Black can play ten tests and the general public may still struggle to pronounce his surname, but ten Origin caps means you have been at the forefront of league for at least four seasons.
There was simply too much talent in NSW for them to continue their lack of success - over the eight-straight series only one year (2010) was a 3-0 shut out, while from Queensland's 15 winning games in that time, eight were decided by less than six points.
Had the rot continued, the inevitable questions about the validity of the series would gain voice, perhaps with a few suggestions to begin tinkering with the oft-debated eligibility rules for players.
Back in 1980, after 24 years of woefully one-sided interstate games, caused by the best in Brisbane shifting to Sydney because clubs growing rich on pokie machines could afford to poach them, the ARL slowly committed to the Origin concept with one-off games in the first two years.
Expat Queenslanders seized on the opportunity to come home and represent their State and with competitive parity restored, the code took its first real steps to going national.
The success of Origin brought us the Brisbane Broncos, which in turn brought us the North Queensland Cowboys and the Auckland Warriors.
No changes to the rules are needed, because Origin comes down to the intangibles inside the individual - it does not build character, it reveals it.
Queensland have always been known for bringing that passion, but anyone who saw Gallen & co collapse in emotional agony during all those years of defeats had to know NSW's desire could not have been any less.
Having finally conquered the mountain on Wednesday night, as every Blues player repeated in their television interview , "that's what Origin's all about".
Desire and passion.
