Sydney Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello is resigned to missing this year's State of Origin series with a back injury which may require surgery.

Forced out of Friday night's Test match against New Zealand after the injury flared up on the opening day of the Kangaroos camp last week, Minichiello is now facing an extended period on the sidelines as the lower disc injury continues to worsen.

The Origin series, which opens at Telstra Stadium on May 24, is now a longshot.

"I sort of knew that already," Minichiello said.

"I'm disappointed but I've got my whole future to think about as well."

The 2005 Golden Boot winner said he struggled to do most things except stand still, and even the simple task of putting his socks on had become impossible due to the pain.

He will seek a second opinion this week, but is already eyeing off surgery in a bid to get back on the field at some stage this season.

"I saw a back specialist the other week and I got another cortisone injection in my back," Minichiello said.

"It obviously didn't help, the pain's still there. It's been there for few weeks now, it's obviously not getting better.

"I can't put my socks on in the morning. I can't bend over, driving is awful ... you can't really do much. All I've been doing is laying around trying to get it better."

While frightened by the proposition of surgery on his back, Minichiello said he'd been left with little choice.

"I've tried every other option, physio and acupuncture and nothing seems to work, so I'm just thinking of getting some surgery," he said.

"They tell me it's not a major, major operation, it's just a shaving of the disc which should ease my nerve pain, hopefully it will work."

The injury first flared towards the back end of last season, before becoming an issue again during Roosters pre-season training earlier this year.

Ruled out of the Anzac Day clash against St George Illawarra with a strained right hamstring, the back injury is now giving him shooting pains down his left leg.

Roosters coach Ricky Stuart said the club had to do whatever it could to protect it's prized asset.

"If it's not surgery it's four-six weeks, if it's surgery it might be six weeks," Stuart said.

"I don't think a decision on taking surgery or the rehabilitation side of it makes too much of a difference in the length of time he's out."

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