Brisbane centre James Roberts has been ruled out indefinitely, as he continues to battle an Achilles injury.
The injury could mean he might miss out on an NSW Origin jumper this year.
Roberts has been managing the injury for the last 15 months but will miss Brisbane's match against the Roosters at the SCG.
Coach Anthony Seibold revealed that club officials are not considering surgery for Roberts, instead opting for a rehabilitation program, before he is cleared to return.
When questioned on the return date of Roberts, Seibold told reporters, "it remains to be seen.
โHe did parts of training yesterday so he is working hard with the medical staff, but as people are aware, Achilles are quite a painful injury.
โIt has hampered him there is no doubt about that.
โYou can see in his performances he has hobbled around a little bit at times and it has been challenging for him.
โWe think the best thing to do is to spend a bit of time getting his body right and we will focus on what he does next week after this game."
Seibold claimed the ball was in Roberts' court when it came to the way he would react to rehabilitation.
โOnly Jimmy can answer that," Seibold said.
โAs an individual, you have to work hard on your rehab and with the medical staff. He isnโt able to do his job for the game and if he canโt do his job, I canโt play him. Thatโs where we are at this week.
โItโs one of those injuries thatโs a tricky one, anyone who has had an Achilles injury ... they come and go.
โWhen the pain is there it is hard to run.
โJimmy has been hampered with that injury, we made a decision that he has to spend time getting it right and thatโs what he will do over the next few weeks."
Roberts has eight weeks to persuade Brad Fittler that he is fit and ready to play in the State of Origin opener on June 5.
