DALY Cherry-Evans does not want to make a decision on his next contract until it expires at the end of next season.

Cherry-Evans, Manly’s premiership halfback, is considered most likely to remain with the Sea Eagles. But as the most high profile player to come off contract for the 2016 season, he would attract big offers on the open market.

Brisbane have yet to start contract talks with halfback Ben Hunt, who is proving as creative as any NRL playmaker.

Any extensive delay in negotiations would fan speculation that Cherry-Evans is in their sights.

DCE’s FEET FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE GROUND

media_camera Daly Cherry-Evans runs the ball in a clash against the Roosters.

Both Cherry-Evans and Hunt, who also ends his deal at the end of next year, would be permitted under NRL rules to begin talks with other clubs on November 1.

Asked when he wanted to start thinking about his next contract, Cherry-Evans told The Courier-Mail: “The end of 2015”.

Clubs like as much notice as possible when retaining or recruiting key players but would tread carefully when trying to hurry such a valuable commodity towards a decision.

Cherry-Evans is a hard marker of his own performances and was critical of his part at No. 7 in Queensland’s Game Two loss to NSW without scoring a try.

Queensland, with two tries from two games, are on track for the fewest tries by a Maroons side in any series since 2005.

Queensland’s fewest tries in all Origin series is two, in 1992, which was Laurie Daley’s first series as NSW captain of the Phil Gould-coached team.

Maroons coach Mal Meninga said he hoped to have the most settled game of an injury-disrupted series, with Cooper Cronk at half and Cherry-Evans off the bench.

“We need to execute better,” Meninga said. “I don’t talk in terms of defeat and winning but in our footy being better, and that I can’t question our attitudes and commitments through the series.”

media_camera Daly Cherry-Evans will play off the bench for game three of the 2014 Origin series.

In a period in which Origin defences have been more difficult than ever to penetrate, the seven tries by the Maroons last year was their equal lowest tally in a series during their eight-year streak.

Queensland scored 10 or more tries in a series four times between 2006-13, with 16 in 2010 being the most.

“I feel that if we can get our preparation right it will go a long way towards a good performance,” Cherry-Evans said.

Originally published as Cherry-Evans is hot property