North Queensland centre Willie Tonga will miss the rest of the State of Origin series, after he was ruled out of NRL action for up to two months with a shoulder injury.
Tonga, who suffered the injury in the first half of Queensland's 16-12 victory in the opening Origin fixtureon Wednesday, will miss six to eight weeks but be back in time for the Cowboys' finals charge.
It was initially feared Tonga could miss the rest of the season, but orthopaedic surgeon John Maguire gave the 27-year-old the good news that surgery would not be required.
"I'm relieved ... I was obviously thinking the worst, which is an operation at the end of the year," Tonga said today.
"I've had my fair share of operations and it's not something I was ready for.
"I think this is the best news that could come out of it."
Tonga has another appointment to see Maguire next week to give a clearer picture on just how long he will be sidelined.
