NRL: Fien not giving up on 2010

Injured Dragons hooker Nathan Fien is aiming to be back playing by round 20. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Injured St George Illawarra hooker Nathan Fien is adamant his NRL season is not a write-off with the New Zealand international eyeing a return just before the finals series.

Still on crutches and with his broken left fibula and dislocated ankle still in a cast, Fien said he was trying to stay as positive as possible as he worked to get back on the field.

"My season's not over by any means - the doctor's told me it's going to be a five month injury," Fien said.

"I'm trying to do all the right things by the injury and hopefully I'll be back by the end of the year.

"Around round 20-21 maybe, fingers crossed that there's no dramas with the injury."

While Fien's determination to get back on the field may come as welcomed news to Dragons fans, it will be of little immediate help to wife Belinda - who gave birth to the couple's fourth child the day Fien went down in the Dragons' season-opening win over Parramatta.

"I can't really do a lot at home so I've got to thank Belinda - I think she's gone to hospital to have one baby and come home with twins," Fien said.

"(It's tough) not being able to lend a hand to my wife as much as I should be able to. I can't get up and go and get (baby) Levi ... Belinda's got to do every single thing so it's pretty tough on her.

"Plus there's three other monkeys running around as well - it can get a little bit tough."

The Dragons have hardly missed a beat in Fien's absence with veteran hooker Luke Priddis reviving a career which seemed certain to finish up on suburban grounds playing park football.

But in the 36 minutes Fien had against the Eels, it was apparent the 30-year-old was going to play a more dominant role in the Dragons' attack than he did when he arrived at the club from the Warriors midway through last season.

"I was just happy to have a whole off-season with the boys this year .. it just had me feeling really good about the upcoming season," Fien said.

"I was really concentrating on playing hooker this year, in previous seasons I've been a halfback and hooker - Wayne (Dragons coach Wayne Bennett) really laid down what he wanted me to do this year and that was play hooker and to try and provide a bit of leadership and direction around the ruck.

"I trained really hard over the off-season to do that and was really enjoying myself out there."

- AAP