Back in the mid-1980s a group of Queensland students toured our school and left behind a scrawled note on the science room whiteboard which read: State of Origin – Maroons 3, Cockroaches 0.
The year was 1984 and NSW had failed to win an Origin series in three attempts.
It hurt worse than when Adam and the Ants broke up.
Even more so when we found out our visitors' bus had already departed the school for the airport with no fear of retribution.
Back then there appeared no escaping the Maroons' dominance.
We were told they would rule forever.
It's the same talk we've been hearing south of the Tweed since Queensland began its current three-year reign in 2006.
Maroons legend Chris 'Choppy' Close is predicting a St George-like 11-year run of success.
And that's even before he's downed his first XXXX of the day.
The Bananabenders taunt us: "How are you ever going to compete against Inglis, Folau, Slater and Thurston?"
But the morning after Wednesday night's 28-18 loss to Queensland in Origin I, there are no slit wrists in the Harbour City.
Rope sales are stagnant and they're not employing extra security at The Gap.
No Origin defeat is palatable but this one is different.
There was enough there to suggest the Baby Blues, blooding seven debutants, can compete with the rock stars in the Queensland line-up.
If not this year, then definitely over the next few years.
Robbie Farah was terrific at hooker, causing plenty of consternation for the Queensland defence each time he darted out of dummy half.
Ben Creagh was great, Justin Poore showed he belonged at Origin level and Michael Jennings did well with the limited opportunities he was handed.
Michael Weyman, Terry Campese and James McManus failed to replicate their NRL form but they will be better for having stuck a hand in the Origin furnace.
The Jarryd Hayne no-try ruling proved crucial.
It was only eight minutes in but, if given, could have swept the Blues to an 8-0 lead.
Instead the Maroons went bang, bang, bang and it was all but over.
At 18-2 down I text a mate saying: 'This could be 50'.
How wrong I was.
The Blues showed plenty of ticker to draw within six points with 12 minutes remaining.
They may get beaten again in Origin II and, more than likely, Origin III as well.
But the Maroons at least now know they can expect a fight from the boys in blue after years of having it their own way.
You don't need a whiteboard to spell it out.