1. The Storm spine - It is terrifying to think that one of the greatest players to ever strap on a boot was the odd man out when it came to bringing club-based familiarity and understanding to the Queensland team. With Johnathan Thurston out of the way, Queensland were finally able to run an all-Storm spine, allowing them to work the magic they weave all year at club level. Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater are arguably three of the best ever to play in their positions, but each is only greater for having played with the others. In recent times that familiarity has been key to winning the big moments under extreme pressure. Add Cameron Munster to the mix and future immortal Thurston won't be forgotten or missed. [ESPN's Greg Prichard called for Munster's elevation over DCE]

Cameron Munster Chris Hyde/Getty Images

2. Endless Origin-ready production line - Queensland put the broom through the losing side after Origin I, retiring veteran forwards in Sam Thaiday, Nate Myles, Aidan Guerra and Jacob Lillyman. That's a combined total of 85 Origin games' experience gone. There was talk [from our own Greg Prichard] of the mighty Blues retiring the old Maroons and the beginning of a new era, as Queensland would surely struggle to blood a new crop of forwards. Step up Jarrod Wallace, Coen Hess and Tim "Who?" Glasby - three battle-hardened forwards who are yet to have lost an Origin game or series.

3. Winning culture - The three new forwards aren't the only Queenslanders who are unfamiliar with losing, when it comes to an Origin series. They have a whole squad who head off to Origin camp each year fully expecting to be partying by the end of the three-game war. Sure they lose the occasional game along the way, but when it really matters, when the series is on the line, they find a way to win, because that is what they do; it is what they have always done, as Brett Kimmorley suggested they would ahead of game three.

4. The NSW media - We know it is their job to promote State of Origin and they feel this is best done by whipping up some parochial blood-lust, but must the New South Wales media continue to provide Queenslanders with another reason to hate the whole state? Players and coaches can say they don't care what is printed on tomorrow's bird-cage liner, but Queensland captain Smith , after game two, made special mention of the "Tim Who?" references to Tim Glasby in the Sydney press. Smith said Queensland were lucky to win considering they went in with only 16 players and a bloke no one knew. You can just picture the Queensland coaching staff shoving copies of the Daily Telegraph into the faces of their players at camp, firing them up to prove a whole state wrong again.

Queensland celebrate another Origin win Chris Hyde/Getty Images

5. Passion - Every year Queenslanders claim to have a mortgage on state pride, and passion in that famous maroon jersey. New South Wales fans and players will argue until they are blue in the face that they are just as passionate about their state as those north of the border. But really? Would you go into battle with any of the Blues players by your side and feel as confident as you would with the Maroons?

6 . Enormous chips on their shoulders - Winning State of Origin simply means more to Queenslanders than it does to New South Welshmen. For a couple hundred years, those north of the border have felt southerners were sneering at them as they counted to 12 using their fingers and sipped endlessly on their cans of XXXX beer. Mention that you are from Sydney at any time of the year in a Queensland pub and you will be forced to listen to a list of achievements and reasons why Queensland (state and team) is simply better. They all have a healthy disdain for anyone not born and bred in the sunshine state, and they love nothing more than knocking the Blues and their fans down to earth.

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7. Mitchell Pearce - In the past 12 years of Queensland dominance, the Maroons have essentially transitioned from Johnathan Thurston at No.7 to Cooper Cronk at No.7, with two appearances each by Scott Prince and Daly Cherry-Evans due to injuries. In that same time, New South Wales have used nine different players at halfback yet they keep returning to Mitchell Pearce as their best alternative. Pearce has played in seven losing series, six at halfback, and has never looked like taking control of a game like a dominating half should. Origin success or failure can't always be pinned on the halfback, but Queensland halfbacks have simply been better.

Halfbacks for the last twelve State of Origin series

2006: Queensland - JT, NSW - Brett Finch games1&2, Craig Gower game 3

2007: Queensland - JT, NSW - Jarrod Mullen 1, Brett Kimmorley 2&3

2008: Queensland - JT 1, Scott Prince 2&3, NSW - Peter Wallace 1&2, Mitchell Pearce 3

2009: Queensland - JT, NSW - Peter Wallace 1&2, Brett Kimmorley 3

2010: Queensland - JT, NSW - Brett Kimmorley 1&2, Mitchell Pearce 3

2011: Queensland - JT, NSW - Mitchell Pearce

2012: Queensland - Cooper Cronk, NSW - Mitchell Pearce

2013: Queensland - Cooper Cronk, NSW - Mitchell Pearce

2014: Queensland - Cooper Cronk 1&3, DCE 2, NSW - Trent Hodkinson BLUES WIN!

2015: Queensland - Cooper Cronk 1&3, DCE 2, NSW - Trent Hodkinson

2016: Queensland - Cooper Cronk, NSW - Adam Reynolds 1&2, James Maloney 3

2017: Queensland - Cooper Cronk, NSW - Mitchell Pearce