League: Watene-Zelezniak on road to recovery

Injured Kiwi Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has joined the Kiwis' camp ahead of the Four Nations final. Photo / Getty

Injured wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has re-joined the Kiwis camp in the lead up to Saturday's Four Nations final in Wellington.

The 19-year-old Penrith Panthers rookie has endured a difficult three weeks watching his New Zealand teammates progress through to the tournament final without him, after an innocuous fall at a Gold Coast beach left him with a broken right foot.

The injury robbed him of a test debut against the Kangaroos in the Kiwis' tournament opener in Brisbane but he is pleased to be back in the team environment and is soaking up the atmosphere and excitement.

"It's an awesome feeling just to be here," Watene-Zelezniak said at the Kiwis captain's run at Westpac Stadium today. "Them going into the final and me being a part of it is massive."

The Hamilton-born teenager has spent the past two weeks back at home in Penrith undergoing the first stages of his recovery and rehabilitation and is looking forward to being free of the moon boot in the coming days.

"I'll hopefully get the boot off on Monday, it's been four weeks [and] that's what [the doctors] said. We'll see what the doc says about the x-ray. Of course I want to get back on the field as soon as possible so I'm trying to do all I can."

Watene-Zelezniak admitted to struggling as he watched the Kiwis first-up win at Suncorp Stadium although the players had been supportive and offered him plenty of encouragement.

"The first game was pretty tough because I was really hoping that I would get a game but this injury stopped me. Sitting on the bench knowing I could have been playing was probably the worst thing.

"All of the boys did [offered encouragement] when I hurt myself. They were all saying "just stick it out" and "things happen for a reason". "

Despite his bad luck he is staying positive and says his brief time within the Kiwis squad has fuelled his determination to earn selection again next season and fulfill his test ambitions.

"It's given me a taste of what it's like and it's going to make me strive more for next year to hopefully make the side.

"It was a massive achievement for me [being selected]. It's a goal I can't tick off yet but I'm looking forward to next year to hopefully do that.

"One positive that I took out was that if I was fit enough to play I would have played in the first game. [I'm] Just not focusing on the negatives and still realising that I'm only 19 so hopefully next year."

Kiwis management had always intended on bringing him back into camp and coach Stephen Kearney felt the youngster could benefit from the experience with a long career in the black and white jumper waiting ahead of him.

"We had to bring him back because we promised we would get him back if we made the final," Kearney said at the joint Kiwis and Kangaroos press conference today.

"He's been waiting for the phone call all week. He was a part of the squad from the start and he's a young man who I believe has got a future in the Kiwis jumper so it was easy to make the decision to get him back and be around the group. He hasn't stopped smiling yet and that's the sort of energy he brings to the team so that's why we got him out."

Watene-Zelezniak has been impressed with the obvious bond between the Kiwis players, which he says has grown since he was last together with the squad.

"[They are] A lot closer. I think the four weeks that they have been together has brought everyone close and you can see it in their game."