Darren Lockyer said he has faith the Broncos can keep his NRL grand final dream alive despite being forced to withdraw from the side for Friday night's preliminary final against Manly.
The champion five-eighth decided on Wednesday morning to pull out of the Brisbane side, opting against taking the risk of playing with a fractured cheekbone.
Lockyer made the decision after long consultation with the club's medical staff, coach Anthony Griffin and his family.
He was hopeful of taking the field against the Sea Eagles despite having three titanium plates inserted in his face after surgery on Sunday morning but said he simply just didn't have enough time to have confidence in playing with the injury.
"We're two days away from game and when I start thinking about it, operation on Sunday and five days later it's just too soon," Lockyer said on Wednesday at the press conference to confirm his withdrawal.
"It's about feeling confident and about being able to tackle and be in the collision situation."
"I didn't have enough time to find that confidence."
"Next week, while the fracture wouldn’t be healed, I'll be much better physically and mentally."
"I'm putting faith in the team, I know they can get the job done and hopefully I'll still be lining up for the Broncos next week."
Lockyer said he was confident he would be right to play if the Broncos qualified for the grand final and has no ill-feeling towards team-mate Gerard Beale, whose collision with Lockyer caused the injury.
His absence means the Broncos must beat Manly or their inspirational skipper will have played his last game in the NRL.
"That's the way footy goes sometime, you can't control some things," he said.
"It's a disappointing the fracture happened last week but it is what it is."
"I can't change it, I have to accept what it is and move forward."
"I'll put my hand up that if we are alive next week, I'll be playing."
Asked what he said to his team-mates after withdrawing from the side, Lockyer said: Just to do it for themselves and for each other."
"All year it's never been about me even though it's my last year and I'd love to finish on a high note."
"There's a good vibe in the team and they can still play well without me."
It's understood young utility Matt Gillett will play at five-eighth.
"He's a very good footballer, pretty hard to handle and he's got some good footwork for a big fella," Manly skipper Jamie Lyon said of Gillett.
"I don’t think they lose too much."
"I know Lockyer's been around a while but (Gillett's) a good player....if he gets the nod he'll do a good job."