Geoff Toovey can't see how Queensland can pick Daly Cherry-Evans on bench for Origin I

DALY Cherry-Evans finished on top against Cooper Cronk - but Manly coach Geoff Toovey can't see how Queensland can justify picking him.

DALY Cherry-Evans finished with the points in his head-to-head showdown with Cooper Cronk on Monday night - but Manly coach Geoff Toovey still can't see how Queensland can justify picking him for State of Origin I.

With Mal Meninga set to name his team on Monday night, there is growing debate Cherry-Evans' outstanding form this season at least warrants a spot on the Maroons' interchange bench for the game in Sydney on June 5.

Last Monday night the Manly halfback finished with two Dally M points, with his halves partner Kieran Foran a clear man-of-the-match and Storm captain Cameron Smith getting one Dally M point off judge Greg Alexander.

There is an argument for Cherry-Evans to win a spot on the bench to give Queensland a chance to blood him into Origin, similarly to how Cronk got his start when Darren Lockyer was still playing.

Toovey's concern is not about Cherry-Evans handling Origin, but getting enough game-time to justify his selection and said he didn't mean it as a slight on his halfback.

"I don't see how you can carry a specialist halfback on the bench," he said.

"I'm not saying he won't handle it.

"But how do you get him enough game-time? How do you rotate your bench? It is difficult. He will handle it, there are no dramas there."

But Toovey couldn't give his young halves enough credit for the way they played tough on Monday night in the gruelling extra-time draw.

While Cherry-Evans had a super game, landing the 40/20 kick of the year, Foran was at another level altogether with his phenomenal defence saving Manly on numerous occasions.

"He was superb," Toovey said of Foran.

"It is not just how tough he is, either. He is a real competitor."

And Toovey reckons they are both only getting better.

"As they both become more experienced they are only going to grow as players," he said. "People forget they are only a few years into their first-grade careers. They are going to get better and better each year."

Toovey said he was also unsure if Glenn Stewart was ready for an Origin call-up despite his improved performance on Monday night in his third game back from injury.

But the coach said he was blown away by how tough his team played in Melbourne.

"It was ridiculous. All the players are working extremely hard for each other," Toovey said.