Superstar halfback Daly Cherry-Evans will miss Manly’s NRL clash with Brisbane on Sunday due to a knee injury suffered in the opening State of Origin game.

The Sea Eagles confirmed on Friday the playmaker would miss the round-12 match, but hoped to return next week against Canterbury.

Manly said NSW back-rower Anthony Watmough was hopeful of taking the Suncorp Stadium turf after aggravating an arm injury for the Blues.

Watmough will be given until kick-off to prove his fitness.

Cherry-Evans replaced Queensland’s starting playmaker Cooper Cronk early in the first half in NSW’s 12-8 win on Wednesday night, and played through the game with the injury.

There were fears Cherry-Evans would miss the second Origin match in Sydney on June 18 but those fears have eased somewhat.

The 25-year-old’s absence is a blow for Manly coming up against a Broncos side boosted by the return of former captain Sam Thaiday from a calf injury.

But Kieran Foran and Jamie Lyon are both back from injury for the visitors.

Cherry-Evans’ place in the Manly halves will be taken by Jack Littlejohn.