Lockyer ruled out of Origin 1

Kangaroo and Brisbane Broncos five-eighth Darren Lockyer will miss the State of Origin series opener with New South Wales.

He was today ruled for up to six weeks with a fractured rib.

The injury to the is the latest massive blow to Queensland, who will now have to find a new five-eighth for the opening match in Sydney on May 26.

Controversial winger Chris Walker was sacked by the Maroons yesterday after being involved in a brawl with police, who needed capsicum spray to subdue him. Queensland team management had spoken to him about his potential to cause disruptions in the squad only hours before.

And as if the Walker setback wasn't enough, veteran front-rower Shane Webcke said he was prepared to sit out the State of Origin series to ensure he overcomes a worrying back injury.

The Maroons are in disarray and now facing a major battle to be ready for the Telstra Stadium game.

Webcke, the foundation stone of the Queensland and Broncos forward packs, will not play for Brisbane against Canberra at Canberra Stadium on Sunday and fears he may face a longer stint on the sidelines.

"I'm in agony and it's not something I'm prepared to muck around with any longer," Webcke said.

"I don't want to think any further down the track than a week off but if I have to miss Origin so be it.

"If we're talking worst-case scenario, and believe me I'm thinking worst-case right now,

I might have to rest it for two weeks, three weeks or longer," Webcke added.

"We're talking about a back injury and the rest of my life here. I don't want to be going through life with a chronic back problem."

The injuries to Webcke and Lockyer are not the only problems for the Broncos who are also resigned to being without in-form hooker Barry Berrigan (neck) for the Raiders match.

Forwards Petero Civoniceva (knee) and Brad Meyers (neck) are also still two or three weeks from returning.

Coach Wayne Bennett said it was time to rest Webcke. "He's been playing on heart but even he can't keep doing that every week," he said.

Webcke revealed that he slept on the floor each night in the lead-up to last month's Anzac Test against New Zealand to avoid having his lower back seize up. He has also been standing on the team bus and on flights home from matches.

"If I sit down my back seizes up so I just stand, it's no big deal," he said. "I actually hurt the back last year and had to manage it right through the Kangaroo tour but I aggravated it against the Cowboys [April 17] and it was downright painful against the Bulldogs."