Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Personal information
Nickname DWZ[1][2]
Born 17 August 1995
Hamilton, New Zealand
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Position Fullback, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014– Penrith Panthers 18 10 0 0 40
Source: Rugby League Project

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (born 17 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League. Watene-Zelezniak primarily plays fullback and wing. Watene-Zelezniak is of Māori, Tongan and Polish descent.

Background

Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, Watene-Zelezniak lived in Ngaruawahia,[3] before moving to Sydney, Australia at as a 5-year old and played his junior football for the St Clair Comets before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.[4] Watene-Zelezniak attended Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.[5] Watene-Zelezniak is the great-grandson of former New Zealand rugby league captain and politician, Steve Watene.[6] Watene-Zelezniak is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[6]

Playing career

In April 2013, Watene-Zelezniak re-signed with the Panthers on a 2-year contract.[7] In 2013, Watene-Zelezniak played in the Panthers' 2013 NYC Grand Final 42-30 win over the New Zealand Warriors. In 2013, Watene-Zelezniak played for the New South Wales Under 18s team.[8][9] In 2013, Watene-Zelezniak was selected to play for both the Australian Schoolboys team and Junior Kiwis team, he eventually chose to play for the Junior Kiwis.[4]

2014

In 2014 Watene-Zelezniak moved on to play in the Panthers NSW Cup team before included in the Panthers first grade squad. In Round 5 of the 2014 NRL season, Watene-Zelezniak made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Canberra Raiders, scoring 2 tries on debut in the Panthers 12-6 win at Penrith Stadium.[10] Watene-Zelezniak finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 10 matches and scoring 7 tries (28p) for the Panthers in the 2014 NRL season. On 7 October 2014, Watene-Zelezniak's impressive late season form has seen him included to the New Zealand Kiwis 24-man squad for the 2014 Four Nations but was later ruled out from the squad after he suffered a foot injury at training.[11][12]

2015

On 5 February 2015, Watene-Zelezniak extended his contract with the Panthers from the end of 2015 to the end of 2016.[13]

References

  1. ↑ McCullough, Ian (5 April 2014). "Cleary ready to unleash Penrith flyer". NRL.
  2. ↑ "Penrith’s Dallin Watene Zelezniak will make his first-grade debut against Canberra". Fox Sports. 4 April 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/9910871/Ngaruawahia-teen-bags-debut-double
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Massoud, Josh (21 November 2013). "Penrith whiz-kid Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on idol Will Hopoate's path". Daily Telegraph.
  5. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/no-rookie-mistakes-but-moylan-could-still-lose-penrith-fullback-role-to-teen-20130726-2qpu4.html
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lane, Daniel (4 April 2014). "Penrith rookie Dallin Watene-Zelezniak shapes up to a family legend". Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ↑ "Panthers re-sign talented youngsters". Penrith Panthers. 24 April 2014.
  8. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/two-penrith-panthers-star-juniors-selected-in-nsw-under18-origin-side/story-fngr8j33-1226666939003
  9. ↑ http://www.smpimages.com/gallery.php?mode=gallery&id=2109&page=1
  10. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/dallin-watenezelezniak-stars-on-debut-as-panthers-beat-raiders-20140405-zqrad.html
  11. ↑ http://m.nrl.com/four-rookies-in-kiwis-four-nations-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/82419/default.aspx
  12. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/new-zealands-dallin-watenezelezniak-to-miss-four-nations-with-injury/story-fni3fbgz-1227098126413
  13. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/penrith-panthers/dallin-watenezelezniak-grateful-and-blessed-to-be-resigned-by-penrith-panthers-20150205-137eby.html

External links