Broncos suffer a big Gillett blow

THE Broncos and Queensland have been dealt a crushing blow with back-row star Matt Gillett suffering a fractured neck.

Gillett faces up to three months out with a vertebrae injury that has ruled him out of tomorrow’s clash against the Warriors in Auckland.

In a remarkable act of bravery, Gillett suffered the injury in the opening minutes of Round 1 against the Dragons, but insisted on soldiering on.

But the pain eventually became too much for Gillett, whose incredible commitment to the Broncos will have costly ramifications for the Maroons.

Gillett did not travel to New Zealand with the team. Instead, he stayed behind in Brisbane to consult a neck specialist, who confirmed the Test back-rower faces eight to 12 weeks in the casualty ward.

The best case scenario would see Gillett out for two months, which rules him out of the Origin series opener against NSW at the MCG on June 6.

But if Gillett faces a lengthier recovery, he will miss the entire Origin series, with Game Three at Suncorp Stadium scheduled for July 11 – effectively the three-month mark in his rehabilitation phase.