Reece Walsh, a standout player for the Brisbane Broncos, is set to undergo surgery for a fractured cheekbone, sidelining him for an estimated four to six weeks.
The Broncos have confirmed that scans indicated Walsh incurred the injury during their 26-12 victory over Gold Coast in Robina on Saturday night.
This fracture coincided with a category-one HIA Walsh suffered late in the first half.
Unable to rejoin the game, Walsh was subsequently taken to the hospital and is scheduled for surgery on Sunday.
Should Walsh be out for the full six weeks, he would be slated to return in round 11, facing the Warriors in Brisbane.
This timeline would leave him with just one match played before Queensland selects its squad for State of Origin I, which occurs on May 27 in Sydney.
Candidates to fill Walsh's position include Jesse Arthars and skilled fullback Hayze Perham.
However, the Broncos are not without additional injury challenges.
Team captain Adam Reynolds managed only 25 minutes on the field before sustaining a groin strain, while his bench replacement, Ben Hunt, suffered a stretched medial ligament yet continued playing.