"All those guys have played really well for their clubs and that's what we want to see," Daley said.
"A couple of those guys (McLean and de Belin) that have been rewarded in this extended squad have played well now for 18 months and that's what you want to see.
"Guys that don't just play well for a period of time, you want to see them play well for a year, 18 months. Once you know they're consistent at clubland by doing that then you know they're ready for the next level and that's why those guys have been included [ahead of Vaughan]."
"We've got plenty of depth so the challenge for players this year is to not feel comfortable because we've got players underneath and we probably haven't had that in the past," Daley said.
"We've got a good group of players to choose from, the ball's in their court. They know now they have to perform. If they don't we've got other people ready to go. That's the pressure we've been looking to build internally in our squad.
"I don't know whether we've had that group of players in the past where we can make a lot of changes.
"This year there's been a lot of guys that are unlucky to miss selection but that's what you want, you want them to be hungry as well and you want them to make sure when their opportunity arises they're ready to take it."
"People keep forgetting that Origin is a different game to clubland and experience counts for a lot. Never underestimate experience in a big game like this," he said.
"If you're putting in a team of rookies you want to be sure that they're going to go on and become genuine superstars because if you don't you can wreck their career. That's what you've got to be careful of, that's what I've always been careful of and I'll continue to do that."