Mitchell Moses played the hero but then tore his biceps on a night when the NSW player proved he was made for State of Origin.
The Parramatta playmaker is likely to be out for the rest of the season after suffering an arm injury in the closing stages of the series-deciding win at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.
Moses won his third consecutive Origin title in his fifth appearance for the Blues, becoming only the third NSW halfback to win a playoff in Brisbane.
He finished the game on the sidelines, holding his right arm, and claimed to have torn a muscle – a diagnosis later confirmed in the dressing room – after earlier breaking the line to score the game-winning try.
A complete tendon tear will require surgery and a recovery period of three to four months, which will keep him out of the Eels’ (16th, 4-13) NRL season.
“I spoke to Mitch before the series – you get to know them – I like Mitch and his personality,” said Blues coach Michael Maguire.
“It suits the arena; you have to have a lot of confidence in your own game.
“He brought that into the game and his kick is very clever.
“That’s what Origin is all about… and it was really nice to see how he broke the game open there.
“He was patient. The game was a tough battle and there could have been a moment that would have opened the game and Mitch found it.”