League: Halfback vows to beat knee injury

Daly Cherry-Evans of the Maroons. Photo / Getty Images

Cherry-Evans wants to play for Manly against the Broncos.

The sight of Daly Cherry-Evans on crutches yesterday would have been enough to make Queensland selectors contemplate reaching for the panic button.

Especially after the rest of the Maroons' "spine" threatened to fracture ahead of their must-win State of Origin II clash in Sydney on June 18.

However, halfback Cherry-Evans allayed fears he would succumb to a knee complaint suffered in Wednesday night's 12-8 loss to NSW at Suncorp Stadium and even backed himself to play Sunday's NRL clash for Manly against the Broncos.

Maroons selectors are looking for a string of replacements after hearing that skipper and No9 Cameron Smith (ankle, two weeks) and fullback Billy Slater (shoulder, three weeks) may struggle to be fully fit for Origin II.

They were already reeling from the news that No7 Cooper Cronk (broken arm) is gone for the series, out for up to three months after going down in the first 10 minutes of Wednesday night's loss.

Slater suffered a grade-two AC joint sprain to his right shoulder.

The man who will again attempt to fill Cronk's shoes in Origin II, Cherry-Evans, downplayed concerns he would be added to the Maroons' injury list.

"I was a bit worried about it. It just needed a night to settle so I'm hoping it's all right," said Cherry-Evans.

Still, a major Origin II overhaul looms.

Broncos backrower Sam Thaiday (calf) should be fit to return. Brisbane prop Josh McGuire and Gold Coast Titans giant David Taylor may also be called up.

Roosters hooker Jake Friend has already been earmarked as Smith's understudy after being named Queensland's 19th man for game one.

- AAP