NRL: Halatau to make up lost time

Injury hasn't allowed Dene Halatau to make the boom start he was hoping for at new club Canterbury this National Rugby League (NRL) season.

But with just 38 minutes of football under his belt and in only his third game in Bulldogs colours, the Kiwis international will be thrown into the deep end with a chance to be a hero in Monday's NRL match against Penrith.

An ankle injury suffered in the trials meant the former Wests Tiger didn't debut in the blue and white until round three.

In that match, he tore the medial ligament in his knee and didn't return until last week against St George Illawarra after a short stint off the bench.

Halatau is short on match fitness, but the versatile performer will step into the taxing hooker position against the Panthers.

With star rake Michael Ennis on Origin duty along with halfback Brett Kimmorley, the struggling Bulldogs are relying on Halatau to blow away the cobwebs and steer young No 7 Ben Barba in the right direction.

"It's going to be a hard slog for me but I've worked pretty hard in everything I could do to get back on the field so I'm in fair shape. It's just that match fitness that's got to come," Halatau said.

"But I've been around long enough to know how to deal with it come game time so it'll just be being smart about it.

"I'm not going to be chasing the ball from sideline to sideline, and I'll rely on some of the boys to help get through it.

"Benny Barba, everyone's seen what he can do with the ball in his hands. He creates something out of nothing with almost every touch, so given an opportunity to start and play 80 minutes, I think he'll really relish that."

Halatau was one of the Tigers' best players in their 2005 premiership run, and was man of the match in their stunning preliminary final upset of St George Illawarra that year.

However, after Wests failed to make the finals the next four years, he needed a freshen up and saw an opportunity to challenge for another title at Canterbury.

The fact his season hasn't yet got off the ground has been enormously frustrating for Halatau.

But now he's back on the park, he's determined to help the Bulldogs turn around their disappointing 3-6 record and return to where they were last season.

"I see the 'Dogs as a team that generally challenge to be in the finals, so I'm looking forward to hopefully doing that this year with them," he said.

"That year we did make it over at the Tigers was one of the highlights of my life so I can't wait to try and have a chance to do that again.

"The injuries were really frustrating. As much as everyone tells you to keep your head up, it's hard at times, especially being at a new club.

"But it's part of the game, you've just got to bounce back from it and hopefully I'm back in the mix and I can string some games together."

Penrith can further cement their place in the top four with a win, however they'll have to do it without inspirational Origin players Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse.

- AAP