Now it’s over to the NSW Rugby League board,which has to decide if Fittler is worthy of one more year. And if not,is there a better alternative?

Tedesco had the final say,setting up debutant Best’s second try with a trademark burst from inside his own half,a scene NSW has relied on for so many years,but missed so badly in this series.

But he wasn’t the best 30-something NSW player,an honour which clearly belonged to Walker.

At 33 and out of the Origin arena for three years,Walker might have changed the result of this series if he had been chosen for game one,or been fit for game two. And the 21-year-old rookie outside of him? Maybe it’s rude not to have picked Best earlier.

Between them,they were everything good about a Blues side which scored on four consecutive possessions in a nine-minute first half burst that powered NSW to an 18-10 lead at the break.

But it didn’t start that way. Just like they did in the first game,Queensland scored first off a loose ball after a high kick. This time it was David Fifita who jogged past an ambling Mitchell Moses and Stephen Crichton to grab first points. Fittler had seen it before.

Yet what he hadn’t seen this series was a free-flowing attack from his team,with Walker at the heart of it. During the week,Walker and Best shadowed each other in a union only Origin brings. They sat next to each other in team meetings,video sessions,and an odd couple was born.

The history books will say Brian To’o scored NSW’s first try,but only after Josh Addo-Carr had made a break down the left outside Walker and Best.

Crichton levelled the scores on the next set with a penalty goal when Harry Grant was adjudged to have clattered into Moses after a clearing kick,and the Blues went back-to-back after that.

Addo-Carr scored a superb 60-metre try with a chip and chase after Walker and Best had sent him free,and they didn’t need the winger on the next attacking opportunity as Best raced over after magical hands from Walker.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow hauled Queensland back into the contest when he kicked and regathered for himself after quick hands from Ben Hunt,unceremoniously booed on his introduction,and Reuben Cotter.

It should have been the sign of a second-half points barrage,which wasn’t. Only Best managed to score after Tedesco’s intervention.

And as Tedesco walked off the field,the famous Rocky music blared from the speaker.

He might have looked like a boxer who has aged between rounds,but there’s still enough time to run away from that white towel. Pride won.

NSW 24 (Bradman Best 2,Brian To’o,Josh Addo-Carr tries;Stephen Crichton 4 goals)defeatedQUEENSLAND 10 (David Fifita,Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow tries;Valentine Holmes goal) at Accor Stadium. Referee:Ashley Klein. Crowd:75,342.

Watch State of Origin exclusively live and free on Channel 9 and9Now.

Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.