Johnathan Thurston's NRL season is over after being told he requires surgery on his injured right shoulder.
The injury blow also means Thurston's Queensland career is over, with the North Queensland playmaker retiring from representative football at the end of the year.
The 34-year-old re-injured his right shoulder in Queensland's 18-16 State of Origin victory over NSW on Wednesday night, when he made a tackle on Blues forward Tyson Frizell.
He will miss what would have been his 300th NRL match on Saturday against Penrith, while North Queensland have been unwilling to put a time frame on his return.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters Walters admitted earlier on Friday the prospect of Thurston playing at Suncorp Stadium on July 12 was highly unlikely.
"He is really knocked around - very doubtful for Game III," Walters told Triple M Brisbane.
"I don't know how he got through the game."We're going to try and do everything we can for little Johnny."
"We're going to try and do everything we can for little Johnny."
Thurston was one of two serious injury concerns for Queensland. Centre Darius Boyd has already been ruled out for next month's decider with a broken thumb, with surgery expected to sideline him for six weeks.
Johnathan Thurston. Source: AAP
The Maroons have a number of backline options to fill the left-edge position, after Justin O'Neill was dropped from the right side after Game I.
But Walters indicated Melbourne's Cameron Munster, who was in the Maroons camp as 18th man for Game II, was the frontrunner to make his Origin debut in the spot.
"He's played some centre at that level - very much respected amongst the group with his defence and the way he goes about his footy.
"So he will be an option for us."
Walters also suggested bench utility Michael Morgan could also cover the slot, given he filled in on the right and provided the match-winning pass after Will Chambers was taken off with concussion on Wednesday night.
However that would seem unlikely given the way Queensland value the Cowboys five-eighth's versatility as an interchange.
