NSW centre Tom Trbojevic has gone down with a pectoral injury three minutes into State of Origin II at Suncorp Stadium in a major blow to the Blues' hopes of levelling the series.
The injury forced coach Brad Fittler to re-think his plans for the bench, with back-up hooker Damien Hook injected into the play early to play out of position at centre.
The Blues scrambled right on their goal-line to stop an early Queensland assault, and Trbojevic plunged into Maroons fullback Reece Walsh to make a tackle.
The Manly superstar reeled out of the contact in immediate discomfort and splinted his right arm onto his jersey as he left the field with the assistance of a trainer.
The Blues bench diagnosed his injury as a pectoral concern a short time later.
The injury is one in a string for Trbojevic, who last suffered a pectoral injury in 2019 but missed the entire 2022 Origin series in the casualty ward.
The loss is a significant one for the Blues as Trbojevic was the Origin man of the series in 2021 and Brad Fittler's side were relying on his spark in the back-line without Latrell Mitchell on deck.
The injury forced Stephen Crichton from left centre to right and brought Cook into the backline.
If the Blues are able to enact their 18th player later in the game through multiple head injuries or one caused by foul play, Fittler is certain to push Matt Burton into the centres.
Burton lined up there for Penrith in their 2021 premiership season before firming as a half on his move to Canterbury last season.
The injury also has significant ramifications for Trbojevic's Sea Eagles, who suffered a 34-4 loss to Parramatta in their most recent game without their star fullback.
