THE future of favourite Sea Eagles son Brett Stewart is in doubt as the veteran fullback prepares to undergo season ending knee surgery.

Stewart will go under the knife to clean out a chronic knee injury on July 22, the club confirmed via Twitter, with a six week time frame expected for his recovery.

There is a hope he may return in time for the final few games of Manly’s season, but this is thought to be unlikely.

Brett Stewart will undergo knee surgery on July 22. Could be out for 6 weeks but will know more after operation. Hoping for a full recovery. — Manly Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) July 11, 2016

Round 20

The longtime Sea Eagles custodian has been a shadow of his best in 2016 as Manly have lurched from one crisis to another, with talk in recent weeks that he may be shifted to the Super League to accommodate the rise of gun youngster Tom Trbojevic.

As it stands Stewart is contracted to Manly until the end of 2017, but he has been linked to French outfit Catalans, a move which would reunite him with brother and former Sea Eagle Glenn.

The champion fullback has won two premierships during his Manly career and has scored a remarkable 163 tries in his 231 NRL appearances but he has crossed the line just once in 2016.