League: Kiwi opts to go mouthguard free

Shaun Kenny-Dowall played 70 minutes with a broken jaw in the 2013 Grand Final. Photo / Getty Images

Despite suffering an horrific jaw injury just over 12 months ago, Kiwis centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall will take the field tonight without a mouthguard.

Kenny-Dowall famously played 70 minutes of the 2013 Grand Final with a broken jaw, and endured a painful recovery afterwards.

He was on a liquid diet for the best part of two months, dropped about seven kilos and endured endless visits to the dentist.

"I had four fractured teeth and then it got infected so had a root canal," says Kenny-Dowall. "They put temporary crowns on, the works. I never want to go through that again - bloody hate [the dentist] now, don't want to go there for a long time."

Despite the painful ordeal, Kenny-Dowall won't have the extra dental protection today.

He has rarely worn a mouthguard throughout his career, though he did experiment again briefly after the injury.

"I'm back to no mouth guard," says Kenny-Dowall. "[I tried to wear one] at the start of the season and tried to train with it but it didn't work out. It's an individual choice. I hate wearing a mouthguard and I have difficulties breathing."

However, it won't be something preying on his mind as he runs at the Australian defensive line tonight.

"You can't afford to think about it when you are out there," says Kenny-Dowall. "Adrenalin takes over and your body has to be ready to go into battle."

And Kenny-Dowall has already endured what he describes as a "good tester", when Eddy Pettybourne's swinging arm hit him flush on the cheek in the World Club Challenge.

"I think that was my first week back," says Kenny-Dowall. "It was pretty sore for a couple of weeks after that but I have never had any problems since."

For someone who has been a mainstay of the Kiwis in recent years, it's been a strange 12 months for Kenny-Dowall.

The Roosters centre missed last year's World Cup campaign with the injury and was then overlooked for the Anzac test, as coach Stephen Kearney opted for a new look team.

His omission in May surprised many pundits but Kenny-Dowall took it on the chin.

"I could sort of understand it," says Kenny Dowall. "The two boys that were playing centre (Dean Whare and Gerard Beale) were playing really good football and I was probably a bit below them at that time. It was disappointing but I didn't get bitter about it. I had to cop it and move on."

What was much more painful was the absence from the World Cup.

"It was bittersweet - I won the premiership but missed out on the World Cup," says Kenny-Dowall. "It was pretty tough - I haven't been to a World Cup in my career and it was pretty hard to watch."

After playing most of his Kiwis football on the right flank - who can forget his late burst to set up the winning try in the 2010 Four Nations final - the 27-year-old will switch to left centre today.

Kenny Dowall claims it's not a big adjustment, and he will be on the same side of the field as Manly play maker Kieran Foran.

"I'm looking forward to playing with Kieran," says Kenny-Dowall. "He gives you the ball when you want it. He gives it to you earlier, he can put you in holes and he takes the line on really well. I'm looking forward to running off him."

Souths rookie Dylan Walker will be the man to focus on for Kenny-Dowall tonight.

"He has been one of the best centres in the competition this season. He's young, energetic, takes risks and he has got speed. I've got a fair idea of how he plays [but it] will depend on the whole edge to stop their threats."