The day two of sport's greatest dynasties died.
Or if we were being more optimistic, the day that marked the beginning of the end for two of sport's longest lasting and most successful teams.
Queensland's 8 year grasp on interstate bragging rights came to an end in a thrilling arm wrestle at the hands of rivals, New South Wales on Wednesday night at a packed ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
Deservedly, the winning score was by Trent Hodgkinson, who appears to be the answer to the Blues' long halfback woes since Andrew Johns pulled stumps on his rep career.
6-4 it finished in an epic encounter - and Hodgkinson was the only man to breach the try line on the night. Yet it was the most significant of tries for a state so long starved of success in this the greatest interstate rivalry in world sport.
For Queensland, it was pretty predictable given the horror injury list they've been experiencing - no Slater, Inglis, Cronk, 3 players who have been key to the 8 year Maroon dominance. That they kept the score to 4-0 for so long is credit to their remarkable mental strength and fortitude. Even then, it wasn't enough to beat the weight of history and expectation.
With those three players, Tate, Thurston, Smith, Myles, etc. pretty much entering the autumn of their careers, Queensland could be in for a period of rebuilding to win back state bragging rights - whether Mal Meninga will get them there remains to be seen. And whether we'll ever see such dominance from one team in this rivalry- probably not.
Just 10 hours later, halfway around the world in Brazil, another dynasty just as memorable if only a few years younger possibly gasped for the last time.
Spain's rise to European and World champions - then retaining their European crown - has been remarkable but the 6 year fiesta finally came to an end in the party capital of Rio de Janeiro in party central, the Maracana.
Indeed you could say that time on the party was called nearly a week ago in Salvador when the Spanish, so long the darlings of football with their tikka takka style from Barcelona, were systematically beaten 5-1 at their own game by the Dutch - the same side who had tried to bully and kick them out of a maiden world title 4 years ago.
Xavi and Gerard Pique, so long integral to La Rojas' success from 2008, were cast aside by coach Vincente del Bosque, desperate for a change but there was to be no comeback as Javi Martinez failed miserably in the troublesome centre back position, while midfield was as limp and lacked the control this side once had.
For Xavi, Pique and Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas, the 2-0 defeat probably marks the end of the road for their international careers with Spain set for serious rebuilding for the future - probably without coach del Bosque.
It is a shame yet perhaps fitting for dramatics that such an illustrious side would experience a downfall so quick and unexpected.
Perhaps, it is a credit to Queensland and Spain's greatness between 2006 and 2014 that their downfalls have been treated with mourning and even a tinge of regret that we're celebrating their downfall.
For Xavi, Pique and Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas, the 2-0 defeat probably marks the end of the road for their international careers with Spain set for serious rebuilding for the future - probably without coach del Bosque.
It is a shame yet perhaps fitting for dramatics that such an illustrious side would experience a downfall so quick and unexpected.
Perhaps, it is a credit to Queensland and Spain's greatness between 2006 and 2014 that their downfalls have been treated with mourning and even a tinge of regret that we're celebrating their downfall.
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