'Read into it what you will': Daly Cherry-Evans returns serve after photo with referee Ashley Klein

Daly Cherry-Evans has returned serve after criticism from NSW Blues great Benny Elias regarding a recent photo of the Maroons skipper with referee Ashley Klein.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the pair spent 20 minutes together after a Manly training session, where Klein was on deck to assist the Sea Eagles.

While it's not uncommon for NRL officials to help out at club training sessions, Klein has since been named as the on-field ref for the State of Origin opener.

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Cherry-Evans, who captains the Maroons, was all smiles during his conversation with the experienced whistleblower - a thought that left Elias less than pleased.

"The mind shudders to think what the hell those two were talking about," he said.

"Although it is that time of year again when Queensland start buttering up the referees."

Speaking to media after the comments from Elias, the captain was quick to dismiss any issue with his conversation with Klein and that it was business as usual.

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"I'm not going to be able to remember the conversation exactly because I don't remember it being nothing more than just a conversation," Cherry-Evans said.

"We have referees come out to our training sessions weekly at Manly. They are humans. They are people. They have families and more often than not we're just talking about our kids and how much they are misbehaving.

"Read into it what you will, but there's nothing really there for me. We are all human and like to talk about our problems. It's just as simple as that really."

Cherry-Evans will lead the Maroons out at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.