Queensland have vowed to go back to the well and channel the spirit of 1995 again, as they attempt to defy State of Origin history and come from behind for a second straight year.
The Maroons were on Thursday picking up the pieces from their great Origin capitulation, after NSW came from 20-6 down to win 22-20 in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga admitted afterwards he felt responsible for the loss, after his controversial send-off for a shoulder charge on NSW rookie Tolu Koula.
But the Queenslanders have immediately turned their eyes to Melbourne and June 17, when they must win for the first time in 14 years to keep the series alive.
No side in the 46-year history of State of Origin has come from behind two years in a row to win both series, a feat the Maroons must now pull off.
Queensland made the 1995 catchcry part of last year's backs-to-the-wall series victory, as they made Paul Vautin's "Neville nobodies" a theme of their campaign.
Maroons players even yelled "1995" to each other as they desperately tried to stay in the series in Perth, after watching replays of that year's Super League-affected series on the first day of camp last season.
Maroons veteran Pat Carrigan said that spirit would again be part of the Queensland ethos over the next six weeks.
"We're Queenslanders, that sort of thing never leaves you," Carrigan told AAP.
"That's the history of Origin and what Queensland has been built on as players and those past guys.
"We'll always lean into that. I think any time you put on the Maroons jersey that is what is expected of you."
Queensland have made a habit of digging themselves out of trouble under Billy Slater, with the 2022 series also looking lost after a game-two drubbing before a win in the decider.
"It's part of us. It's just the expectation," Carrigan said.
"The players who came before us created that standard and whatever circumstances get thrown at you, you just have to deal with it and find a way.
"There will be an opportunity to go to Melbourne and level it up, and the rest will be history."
Slater echoed a similar tune on Wednesday night, while indicating he would not "throw the baby out with the bathwater" at the selection table.
The big debate over the next 10 days is likely to centre around Reece Walsh, after last year's Clive Churchill Medal winner was sensationally snubbed for Origin I.
Slater plumped for Ponga at fullback, and the Newcastle man will be expected to keep his spot after being cleared of suspension for the shoulder charge
Pressed as to whether creative phenom Walsh would come back into calculations for next month's clash at the MCG, Slater declined to speculate.
"There's a lot of ifs … we'll just put one foot in front of the other," Slater said.
"The heart and spirit that they fought with - with 12 men - they fought hard.
"This is the journey we've been put on. These are the cards we've been dealt, and we'll be playing our hand."
