Queensland hooker Andrew McCullough will miss this year's State of Origin opener, with a knee injury to sideline him for six weeks.
McCullough hurt his medial collateral ligament during training on Monday but Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold revealed on Thursday the rake won't need surgery on the injury.
Despite that positive, McCullough will not be fit for the June 5 Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
"He saw the specialist last night and he'll be out for around about six weeks," Seibold said.
"We thought it was going to be around about 10-12."
It leaves Queensland coach Kevin Walters searching for a No.9 with Sydney Roosters' Jake Friend (biceps) also sidelined.
Walters has suggested North Queensland's Jake Granville is front and centre of his plans but there has been repeated calls for ex-skipper Cameron Smith to come out of representative retirement.
Despite Walters saying he would not be issuing an SOS to Smith, Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher has made a public plea for the 35-year-old to put his hand up for the Maroons.
"Queensland needs Cameron Smith. We would love to have him back," Hatcher told the Courier-Mail.
"The cupboard is bare. We need a captain and a hooker."
Smith himself says he has no plans to add to his 42 Origin appearances and believes St George Illawarra halfback Ben Hunt can do the job at hooker for Queensland.
"It's not an ideal situation for Queensland with so many of their players injured but they will find someone," Smith said on Wednesday.
