At one stage Queensland chairman Peter Betros interrupted the Maroons team press conference in Melbourne as the inevitable Daly Cherry-Evans questions came thick and fast early.

“Do we have any other questions about the game, other than Daly?” Betros asked.

But it seems the spotlight will not be far away from the controversial Manly playmaker for yet another week after being named as injured halfback Cooper Cronk’s State of Origin game two replacement.

Cherry-Evans caused an uproar north of the Tweed River last week when he reneged on a four-year Gold Coast deal to stay in Manly.

A low point came when the Maroons playmaker was booed at Queensland’s spiritual home Suncorp Stadium at Manly’s NRL loss to Brisbane on Friday night.

However, loyal Maroons coach Mal Meninga has kept the faith with Cherry-Evans following Cronk’s injury.

He scoffed at reports that Cherry-Evans’ backflip may have jeapordised his place in the Queensland team.

“That doesn’t even deserve to be commented on, so let’s move on from Daly,” Meninga said.

However, another Cherry-Evans enquiry followed, prompting Betros’ intervention.

But it seems Cherry-Evans will be in the headlines whatever he does ahead of game two.

The man himself did his best to move on from the controversy when he addressed the media, albeit in a one-off all-in opportunity.

“This is a jersey I love to wear. I can’t wait to play,” Cherry-Evans said.

“I have had nothing but support through the situation.

“The spotlight and the attention really hasn’t bothered me.”

Which is for the best considering the task ahead.

Meninga rued Melbourne Storm halfback Cronk’s injury but backed Cherry-Evans after ignoring the claims of in-form Broncos halfback Ben Hunt.

“He has been there, done that – I am very confident he will get the job done,” he said.