Penrith co-captain content to play wingman

He's the Panthers leader content to play wingman.

Penrith star Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has officially lost his battle for the fullback spot for the club's NRL opener, with Dylan Edwards named No.1 on Tuesday.

Watene-Zelezniak had declared his desire to remain in the role after performing well last year, resulting in his ascension to the New Zealand captaincy.

However he returns to the wing for the round-one clash with Parramatta following Edwards' long-term injury comeback.

"At the moment, I'll play wherever I can to play in the NRL. Whatever's best for the team, I will do," Watene-Zelezniak said.

"(Fullback is) the position I want to play. It's always what I've loved as a kid growing up and where I wanted to play in the NRL.

"But as I said before, whatever's best for the team, I'll do."

Sunday's opener against the Eels will be Watene-Zelezniak's first appearance of the year after a stem cell procedure on his knee in January caused him to miss both the club's trials.

"They just get the stem cell in your body and inject it into your knee. It's sweet, I've been battling it for about three years. It's been the best it's ever felt," he said.

"(With) match fitness, no matter how much running and training you do, you always feel a bit unfit in your first game.

"But that's just the game. I've done that for the last three years ... Hopefully it's the same this year."

The 23-year-old and Nathan Cleary, 21, are among six co-captains named by returning coach Ivan Cleary.

Watene-Zelezniak is also the only local product, having moved to Australia when he was five.

"I was gobsmacked because it's always a dream to captain a team but you don't think those dreams come true," he said.