BRISBANE Broncos star Darren Lockyer has pulled out of the team for Friday night's match against Manly because of his smashed cheekbone.

After consultating Broncos medical staff and coach Anthony Griffin this morning, Lockyer made the heartwrenching decision not to play.

"They can still play well without me," Lockyer said at today'sd press conference to confirm his withdrawal.

"It's never been about me. The boys will go out there and play well without me.

"I could have pulled out on Monday but I still wanted to be here.

"I'll put my hand up that if we are alive next week, I'll be playing."

Lockyer flew to Sydney in a helicopter yesterday, sparking suggestions he would play but now there is the very real possibility the modern day great has played his last match.

He is due to retire at the end of the season but his career will be over if Manly beat the Broncos to progress to the Grand Final.



But Lockyer insisted he would be ready to play on Sunday week if the Broncos beat Manly and qualify to meet either Melbourne Storm or NZ Warriors.

"I'll put my hand up now that if we're alive next week I'll be playing,'' said Lockyer, who had three metal plates inserted into his cheek after colliding with a teammate in the match against St George.

"If we get the result on Friday we've got another nine days until the Grand Final,'' he said.

"We're two days away from the game, I just started thinking about it, I was operated on on Sunday and playing five days later it's just too soon.''

"Next week the fracture won't be completely healed but I'll be in a lot better shape physically and mentally to play.''

It's understood boom utility Matt Gillett will play at five-eighth for the Broncos against Manly.

Lockyer, the Broncos, Queensland and Australia captain, kicked a remarkable extra-time field goal to get the Brisbane through to preliminary final and see off the challenge of Wayne Bennett's St George Illawarra Dragons.

The champion five-eighth has played 355 NRL matches and was the only current player picked in the top 100 players of all time announced during rugby league's centenary year in 2008.

Originally published as Injured Lockyer pulls out