Young Panther set to miss the start of the season

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will miss the opening rounds of the 2018 NRL season after injuring his ankle on the weekend.

The 22-year-old was participating in a contact drill before falling awkwardly on his ankle with preliminary reports indicating the winger will miss at least one month with the injury.

The New Zealand representative, who is currently in a moon boot, won't run for at least another two weeks, meaning his unavailability could provide an opportunity for one of Penrith's young flyers to make a claim in his vacancy.

It hasn't been the best of weeks for the Panthers following news that Bryce Cartwright left the club to sign with the Titans with rumours continuing to swirl about the future of star halves Nathan Cleary.