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Warriors hooker Alehana Mara. - Source: Photosport
Warriors hooker Alehana Mara is like any sportsman incapacitated by injury - he's bored and he doesn't handle being bored very well.
But the 22-year-old Wellington-born Mara is up for the fight, determined to return to the field on - and preferably ahead - of schedule.
With a moon boot a necessary but unwanted companion for the time being, he's now two weeks into recovering from the right fibula he broke in the opening minutes of the Warriors' 30-16 14th-round NRL win against Penrith.
He's expected to be out for six to eight weeks, leaving him on target to be available again the weekend the Warriors play Cronulla at Mount Smart Stadium.
The injury was a blow for Mara so soon after earning an NRL recall to replace veteran Nathan Friend, who had been ruled out after breaking his jaw against Brisbane on May 5.
Mara, playing his fourth straight game and only the 14th of his career, was just settling into the rhythm of first-grade football again when he suffered his latest injury.
Rather than being overtly despondent about his predicament, though, he says he's motivated.
"It's just one of those setbacks that happen and I'll fight back from it," he said.
"It's boring not being able to do much and wearing the moon boot but it's better than having the leg in plaster."
That Mara was able to play on for as long as he did against Penrith was remarkable.
"The injury happened in about the sixth minute when I ran out of dummy half," he said.
"I heard a click and thought it was my ankle so I just tried to run it off."
In the television coverage of the match, Mara could be seen hobbling about but he kept making it to dummy half and also got involved in a few tackles.
Soon after his injury, the Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead through Manu Vatuvei's first try. And then in the 17th minute Mara had a key hand in the lead-up to Vatuvei's second try.
Serving the ball up to Russell Packer from dummy half, he doubled around to collect Packer's off load out the back before flicking it on to Shaun Johnson who pushed through a deft kick for Vatuvei to surge onto for his second try.
Mara's involvement in the try ultimately ended his night as he felt his leg give way when he darted out to support Packer.
Even when he left the field he thought the injury was probably an ankle sprain.
It wasn't until team doctor John Mayhew had a look that fears of a fracture emerged, later confirmed when Mara was taken to Westmead Hospital for x-rays.
It then became clear Mara had indeed unknowingly played for about 10 minutes with a broken leg.
He's now back doing what he can at training in the belief he'll be up to speed in a few weeks looking to push for selection again.