Nelson Bay controlled the game from the outset and ran over The Waratahs 27-17 at Strong Oval for their fourth win of the season.

Good friend and representative touch player Darren McSpadden answered an SOS call from Stewart and stepped into five-eighth, leaving stop-gap ten Matt Affleck to return to flanker.

"I said to him, don't get me wrong Matty Affleck is doing a fantastic job, but we do need you," Stewart said.

"He just has a great kicking and passing game, brilliant hands and he led the boys around really well."

Halfback Marcus Sale crossed twice for the Gropers while returning inside centre Ryan Mudd and fullback Dillon Rowney ensured there would be a four-try bonus point gained from round 11.

Injuries, work and representative commitments have stifled the availability of key figures for the Bay this season, undermining chances for success against lowly-placed Southern Beaches and Lake Macquarie, according to Stewart.

But he is optimistic last weekend's full-strength and in-form backs will remain for this weekend's game against a jilted Maitland Blacks at Marcellin Oval.

The Blacks come off a 56-26 loss to ladder leaders Merewether Carlton, but Stewart was not dropping his guard for the match against the coalfields side.

The Gropers are currently placed seventh.