Manly captain Jamie Buhrer says there is little doubt the Toyota Cup is working as a breeding ground for the NRL after being named in the competition's dream team on Monday.

Buhrer was one of four players from the top-of the-table Manly outfit to gain selection in the merit side, joining Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

While Buhrer has yet to make the step up to the NRL, seeing Foran and Waerea-Hargreaves get the call-up has highlighted the line of progression for the backrower.

"I'm stoked, obviously you want to be the best in your age group and you want to make those jumps to NRL and I think it is definitely a good thing," Buhrer said.

Eight of the players selected in the `dream team' have played in the NRL this season.

Among the other players selected were Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui, Canberra's Travis Waddell, Taioalo Vaivai from South Sydney and Warriors centre Siuatonga Likiliki.

NRL CEO David Gallop said the national youth competition had established itself as the most professional junior development pathway in Australian sport.

"This competition is unique in Australian sport, televised nationally and an opportunity to see the future stars of our game every week which has been a great success for us," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.

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