Stewart still a chance for Manly: Barrett

Brett Stewart continues to battle hamstring trouble leading up to Manly’s round-one NRL clash with Canterbury.

Stewart suffered the injury in the Sea Eagles’ trial match against Ipswich Jets three weeks ago and the injury hasn’t healed as well as expected.

Manly coach Trent Barrett said he would give his superstar fullback until an hour before kick off to prove his fitness for the Friday night encounter against the Bulldogs at Brookvale Oval.

“He will have another run this morning, he is still a chance of playing, We will give him up until tomorrow night,” Barrett said on Thursday morning.

“He has bit of a hamstring strain, hopefully he will come through, if not we have some handy replacements.”

Stewart has battled hamstring trouble for much of his career, but Barrett said it was not a major drama.

“It’s not a bad one, he is still very hopeful on playing and he will only miss one game if that is the case,” he said.

Tom Trbojevic will move from the wing into the custodian role for Manly if Stewart is ruled out.

Barrett said either Halauafu Lavaka, Fabian Goodall would then move onto Trbojevic’s wing.

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