Manly co-captain Jamie Lyon has warned fans not to expect miracles from returning fullback Brett Stewart when the NRL season gets underway next week.

Stewart made his return from a long-term knee injury in the Sea Eagles' 14-12 trial win over the Warriors on Saturday as he attempts the long journey back to the form that made him a Test star in 2007 and grand final winner a year later.

The tryscoring machine had most of his 2009 and 2010 seasons wiped out by injury, while he also beat a sexual assault charge.

Stewart, who turned 26 on Sunday and is off-contract at the end of 2011, played 20 minutes at North Harbour Stadium as he eyes a full-blown return against Melbourne on Saturday week.

"Even though it was only 20 minutes, it's good for his confidence and we all can't wait to play alongside him again this year," Lyon told reporters on Monday.

"It will be a massive boost but we won't be expecting too much off him straight away.

"It might take him a few games to really find his feet.

"He's definitely a gamebreaker and a player we'll definitely welcome back with open arms."

Stewart has been made a part of the Sea Eagles' leadership group for 2011, co-captain Jason King revealed.

"He's a part of the leadership team, an important member of our squad, great guy to have around the club, shows plenty of leadership and is also a good friend to a lot of the guys in the team," King said.

"He's brought some real enthusiasm to the squad."

The Sea Eagles spent Monday reclaiming the "silvertails" tag by suiting up and posing in front of a limousine and Ferrari above Manly beach.

But that hasn't stopped them pleading for more government dollars to redevelop Brookvale Oval.

They were due to host local candidates for the state election at a public forum on Monday night to push their case.

"We haven't yet got the funding that we require to turn it into the ground that the peninsula deserves," chairman Scott Penn said.

"We do need a ground that can suit the modern standards of the game.

"Every other team has already received significant funding and is embarking upon upgrades and we haven't."

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