Hard-hitting Warriors NRL forward Ben Matulino wishes he was back in his home town of Wellington this week.

Instead of being in the New Zealand camp, preparing for the Four Nations rugby league final against Australia, he is in the grind of pre-season training.

The flip side is he’s been able to have two months off since the end of the NRL season to get a problem knee and other niggling injuries right.

“That’s the longest rest I’ve had,” he said on Tuesday.

“Usually, it’s just four weeks and then it’s straight back into it.”

The 25-year-old Matulino was among the first contingent of players back as the Warriors began their off-season schedule last week.

Those on Four Nations duty are not expected to return for several weeks.

Matulino had a small operation mid-year to clean up the knee, but still went on to total 20 matches during a season that came after a World Cup.

Capped 19 times, he was a part of the last side to beat the Kangaroos in a final.

That came in 2010, when he was a starting second-rower as the Kiwis claimed the Four Nations title with a 16-12 upset in Brisbane.

He expects New Zealand, who went through pool play this year unbeaten, to be feeling confident heading into Saturday’s decider at Westpac Stadium.

But they will also be giving plenty of respect to a Kangaroos side who are coming right at the business end of the tournament.

“You can’t go in too confident or they’ll blow you away,” Matulino said.

“The Kiwis don’t need to change too much. What they’ve been doing has worked well for them – but obviously, put in something extra to get them over the line.

“It will be a tough game, but I’m pretty confident they can do it.”