We've seen it countless times since 1980 - the impossible comeback, the freakish finish. When the chips are down and all seems lost, watch the miracle men come to the fore.

1. That's a miracle, Game 1, 1994

A legendary try deserves a legendary call and that's exactly what Ray 'Rabs' Warren provided for Mark Coyne's 79th minute match-winner at the SFS in Game 1, 1994. A sweeping Maroons move launched from 60 metres out and featuring Willie Carne, Steve Renouf, Michael Hancock, Darren Smith and Mal Meninga was finished in style in the corner by Coyne.

The Maroons bench erupted and high in the stands Warren leapt from his seat to proclaim "that's not a try, that's a miracle". Given that they trailed a star-studded NSW side 12-4 with six minutes remaining it was indeed a miracle Maroon escape.

2. Locky breaks Blues' hearts, Game 3. 2006

It will go down as the start of the Maroon dynasty but with 15 minutes to go at Melbourne's Telstra Dome it looked like the end of another long night for Queensland and the end of some decorated Origin careers.

Down 14-4, the Maroons were staring at a fourth straight series defeat until a 60-metre try to Brent Tate gave them hope. With time ticking away and the Blues coming out of their red zone a wayward pass out of dummy half by Brett Hodgson was swooped on by Darren Lockyer who scored beside the posts. The Blues had lost the unlosable and it would eight long years before they would win another series.

3. 'Sparkles' and 'Snoz' stand tall, Game 2, 1991

Once the dust had settled on the legendary Lewis v Geyer stink, the Blues and Maroons got down and dirty on a wet night at the SFS and produced a classic. With the Blues trailing 12-8 inside the last five minutes, an attacking raid featuring a sensational John Cartwright offload and a pearler of a pass from Ricky Stuart saw Mark 'Sparkles' McGaw slide over out wide to level the scores.

Up stepped Michael 'Snoz' O'Connor, one of the game's elite goalkickers and the perfect man for the big moment. With rain teeming down and the weight of a state on his shoulders, O'Connor started it to the right and swung it in perfectly to win the game for the Blues.

4. Bowen's golden glow, Game 1, 2005

One way or another, Brett Kimmorley would finish up in Origin folkore. Had his extra-time pass found its mark, Matt Cooper streaks away and NSW win. Instead, the ball hung in the air and Maroons super sub Matt Bowen took the intercept and raced away.

Bowen raised his arm in triumph on his way to the tryline and Kimmorley slumped to the turf in disbelief. The Maroons had led 19-0 early in the second half but were reeled in by the Blues, who led 20-19 with two minutes to play.

Making his Origin debut, Johnathan Thurston calmly landed a field goal to send the pulsating clash into golden point. Just two minutes into extra-time, Kimmorley spotted an overlap, rolled the dice and came up snake eyes.

5. Maroons are never dead, Game 1, 1998

Down 23-18 with two minutes to go and camped on their own line, the Maroons threw caution the wind and came up with something magical. Kevin Walters gambled on a kick from his own 10-metre line and Ben Ikin regathered the ball 30 metres upfield.

Wendell Sailor went to dummy half and started a movement which featured Allan Langer, Darren Smith, Walters and Darren Lockyer twice. Langer and Lockyer again handled in next play before the final raid saw Alfie go into dummy half and find Jason Smith who shovelled it on to brother Darren who found Walters again and finally Tonie Carroll who scored with 45 seconds left at the same end of SFS where Darren Albert had scored his miracle try for Newcastle the previous year.