Panthers winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak played on with a fractured jaw

PENRITH have suffered another massive injury blow with star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to miss six weeks with a fractured jaw.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of the Panthers is tackled by Robert Jennings of the Rabbitohs during the Round 2 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Panthers Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, March 17, 2018. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

PENRITH have suffered another massive injury blow with star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to miss six weeks with a fractured jaw.

Watene-Zelezniak is having surgery on Wednesday to repair the damage after copping what he’d thought to be an inconspicuous knock during the Panthers come-from-behind win against the Rabbitohs on Saturday.

Watene-Zelezniak thought nothing of the knock at first.

It will be unwelcome news to coach Anthony Griffin who is already assessing his depleted player stocks after a third season-ending ACL injury to forward Sam McKendry and a ruptured bowel for prop Tim Browne.

Doctors told Watene-Zelezniak he could play on but would risk, with a further knock to the jaw, being sidelined for up to 12 weeks.

Watene-Zelezniak is expected to return in rounds nine or 10.

His jaw injury is the third suffered by a player since the 2018 NRL season began.

Rookie Sharks winger Sione Katoa fractured his jaw in Cronulla’s round one loss to the Cowboys and the Broncos lost Jordan Kahu in round two after he broke his jaw in three places.