After putting two years of injury hell behind him, Kyle Stanley knows the time's come to start living up to the hype and it may be away from St George-Illawarra.

The 23-year-old came off the bench for the first five games of this season with his contract up at the end of this season.

"Each week I am getting better and better but I just want to get more minutes off the bench," Stanley said.

"There were some dark, dark times last year, but I have pushed through it.

"Ideally I want a ball-playing role. I've said that from the first day I came into grade. But time will tell with what happens."

Stanley was viewed as the club's long-term five-eighth but is realistic enough to know that door closed after Gareth Widdop's arrival.

"He is a top-quality player but that seven jersey has been shuffled around a bit. If I get that chance I'd take it," he said.

Talks have yet to start over a new deal but Stanley knows he must prove he can get through a full season and may follow older brother Chase out the door.

"I love this club. I'm a local junior and want to stay but who knows what the future holds," he said. AAP