NSW fullback Brett Stewart is hoping the reduction in interchanges for this year's State of Origin series will open the game up for his destructive try-scoring ability.

Manly custodian Stewart has one of the NRL's most prolific try-scoring records, with 77 four-pointers from 96 games including seven from eight appearances in 2008.

He famously crossed on debut in last year's game two with a dart from dummy-half but said the intensity of Origin clashes made it tougher to get across the line.

"It's a lot tighter, it's Australia's best players," he said.

"There's not much room to move and you've got to make the most of every opportunity, they don't come around too often in Origin."

But this year's series will be played under NRL, rather than international rules, meaning the number of interchanges allowed per team will fall from 12 to 10.

The idea has been to bring the tired forward factor back into the game and with it, the prominence of the smaller, quicker men.

"I think it will open up just a little bit more, not too much, maybe a couple more slower forwards around the ruck," Stewart told reporters.

It's a move Queensland believe favours the Blues but, asked on Friday if that was another example of the Maroons on the lookout for a whinge, NSW five-eighth Greg Bird couldn't resist stirring the pot: "I think they do but that's the way they are.

"That's the way they've been the last 20 years, it's the way they're going to be the next 20 years."

Stewart, 23, said there was more to his game than crossing the try-line.

"The way the game's played these days, there's plenty of room for us fullbacks and I suppose that gives us more opportunity than most positions on the field to score tries," he said.

"But that's not how I gauge my game.

"Some of my best games have been when I haven't scored tries."

Stewart was a late call-up for NSW's Anthony Minichiello last year and said the full period in camp this time had made him feel more settled.

"I was a little bit more nervous last year, obviously only having 24 hours to prepare so it's been good so far experiencing the whole week," he said.

"You look around, there's a few experienced players but then when you actually look on the books we haven't played a great deal of matches between us.

"I feel comfortable in the two games that I played last year and I want to better that this year.

"I think I expect a little bit more out of myself after being there last year."

That includes building a combination with kicking halfback Peter Wallace after Manly No.7 Matt Orford found himself in the Origin wilderness again.

"We've already spoken about it, me and Peter. We're going to continue to work on that, you can't pick it up in a couple of days but certainly a week and a half's long enough," Stewart said.

"I'm sure at some stage you'll see either team probably try the old chip kick but we've got to pick our time to do that."

Stewart has needed to overcome a calf injury and the disappointment of losing his Test jersey to Maroons rival Billy Slater heading into Wednesday's ANZ Stadium match.

He said his clash with Slater could have a bearing on World Cup selection later this year.

"I think it's going to be a combination of things," he said.

"If you can play a solid three games at this quality (of) football, you can outplay them, I think you're making a statement there as well.

"But obviously the end of the year's going to count as well with semis and possibly a grand final."

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