Manly back-rower Glenn Stewart concedes he is not yet ready to reclaim his spot in the NSW State of Origin side, with full fitness still three weeks away.

The 29-year-old made a successful return from a knee injury in the Sea Eagles’ costly loss to South Sydney last Friday – but admits his best form will take time.

Whether he’s left enough time to impress Blues selectors and coach Laurie Daley before the team is selected for Origin I is another matter.

“That’s out of my hands. At the moment I’m not up to that level,” Stewart, who has played five Origin games, said on Tuesday.

“It’s up to Loz (Daley) to work that out but in saying that I’ve still got a few weeks, so we’ll see how it goes.

“… I’m just guessing (about when I’ll be back to full fitness, but) I just know I’m not at there at the moment.

“I’m still doing extras at training every week and trying to get back there. I can’t give you an exact week but I’ll be getting there.”

Stewart was ever reliable in defence in his first game of the season, making 32 tackles in a brutal contest against one of the game’s biggest packs.

But the ball-playing forward was unusually quiet in attack, running the ball just four times.

“It’s fair to say (I was thrown in) at the deep end against that pack,” Stewart said.

“They’re a large pack. It was a fast game and it was pretty intense.

“In saying that I liked it. It was good coming back, testing myself.

“I know where I’m at. I’m a bit behind but it was a good benchmark.”

Stewart might feel his best is still three weeks away, but veteran teammate Brent Kite gave him a gentle ribbing about the form of young recruit Tom Symonds, who enjoyed some try-scoring success while filling in.

“We need (Stewart) firing this week,” Kite said.

“I’ll be reminding him we’ve got young Tom Symonds there going pretty well so he needs to pull up his socks and rip in.

“I’ve seen him come good quickly in the past and Glenn’s a professional. I’m sure he’ll be firing pretty soon.”