St George Illawarra hooker Nathan Fien is determined to return before the NRL finals after scans confirmed he broke a leg in the Dragons' win over Parramatta.

Fien underwent an operation in Sydney on Saturday after it was revealed he had fractured his fibula when his leg became caught under the weight of several defenders as he made a charge towards the Eels line just before halftime in the Dragons' 18-12 win at Parramatta Stadium.

Doctors set the recovery period at five months, meaning Fien should return in late August.

It was a disappointing end to what had started out as a day of great joy after he joined his wife in hospital in Wollongong to witness the birth of his fourth child, a little boy.

Fien himself finished the day in the care of medical staff, the 30-year-old saying he knew immediately that he was in some trouble.

"I knew something was wrong straight away, I heard a crack but was wondering how I was going to get up and play the ball quickly because we were so close to the line," Fien said on Saturday.

"When I was back in the sheds and they cut the tape off, it was bit numb and I thought I might be okay here, but when the doc had a look and moved it a bit, I realised it was pretty serious and they took me off to hospital.

"I was feeling really good out there, on top of the world.

"It was probably a combination of seeing my son being born and the back off we had in training last week.

"I was really enjoying the game, I was happy with my defence and we were getting some good shake in attack and then it was all over."

The Dragons attack was noticeable more laboured after Fien left the field as Dean Young, who had been playing well at lock, moved into dummy half.

Young now looms as a likely long-term fill-in at No.9, though Dragons coach Wayne Bennett also has the luxury of calling on former premiership-winning hooker Luke Priddis.

Fien however said he was determined to return for the business end of the season.

"It's just one of those things that happens in footy, not playing isn't going to be fun, but I'm pleased that I can have the operation so soon to allow me to get back as quickly as possible," Fien said.

"I will now just have to wait a little longer and enjoy some extra time with my wife and four kids."

Fien is due to leave hospital on Sunday when he hopes to return to Wollongong to be with his family.

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