Johnathan Thurston feared he would compromise his health after football if he delayed shoulder surgery and tried to nurse his battered body through to a State of Origin farewell next month.
The halfback was expected to play in his 300th NRL match against the Penrith Panthers on Saturday night, but now Thurston will have to wait till next season to join the elite '300 club'.
It is a devastating blow for the Maroons, who have lost Thurston and star utility back Darius Boyd (broken thumb) in the past 24 hours.
North Queensland coach Paul Green has confirmed the news at a press conference today Thurston's on-going shoulder injury requires surgery.
"The news isn't good", Thurston said.
The 34-year-old admitted he had thought about rolling the dice and playing one or two more games in order to wear the Queensland No.6 for the last time in a series decider, but couldn't risk the possible ramifications another knock could have long term.
"But the medical advice I've been given is that if I wanted to live a normal life after football, then I had to have the surgery".
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Queensland coach Kevin Walters now faces a scrumbase conundrum, with Michael Morgan set to be the frontline contender to replace Thurston as Cooper Cronk's halves partner. He will also miss the World Cup.
He eventually went on to kick the match-winning goal from the sideline, keeping the Maroons' hopes of an 11th series victory in 12 years alive.
But Thurston added he would have no second thoughts on his decision to retire from representative football.
"It's a decision that I've made", he said. "I'm comfortable with that decision I've made to retire from rep football".
"Like Johnathan, he will be hard to replace but I'm confident that we have players in our system ready to make the step up".
However that would seem unlikely given the way Queensland value the Cowboys five-eighth's versatility as an interchange.
Thurston's absence is also a setback for the Cowboys, who sit seventh in the NRL.
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