Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Personal information
Nickname DWZ[1][2]
Born (1995-08-17) 17 August 1995
Hamilton, New Zealand
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 97 kg (15 st 4 lb)
Playing information
Position fullback, wing, centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014– Penrith Panthers 26 14 0 0 56
As of 10 November 2015
Source: [3]

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (born 17 August 1995) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback, wing and centre.

Background

Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, Watene-Zelezniak is of Māori, Tongan and Polish descent. Watene-Zelezniak lived in Ngaruawahia,[4] before moving to Sydney, Australia as a 5-year old and played his junior football for the St Clair Comets before being signed by the Penrith Panthers.[5] Watene-Zelezniak attended Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.[6] Watene-Zelezniak is the great-grandson of former New Zealand rugby league captain and politician, Steve Watene.[7] Watene-Zelezniak is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[7]

Playing career

In April 2013, Watene-Zelezniak re-signed with the Panthers on a 2-year contract.[8] 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.[9][10] 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.[5]

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.[11] Watene-Zelezniak finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 10 matches and scoring 7 tries 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.[12][13]

2015

On 5 February, Watene-Zelezniak extended his contract with the Panthers from the end of 2015 to the end of 2016.[14] On 28 April, he was ruled out to make his international debut for New Zealand in the 2015 ANZAC Test after he was charged with a dangerous throw on Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks player Wade Graham, the suspension denying Watene-Zelezniak his New Zealand debut for the second time in 6-months.[15] In Round 18 against the Sydney Roosters, he was ruled out for the rest of the 2015 season after suffering a collapsed lung during the Panthers' 24-4 loss at Penrith Stadium.[16][17][18] He finished off the 2015 season having played in 16 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Panthers.[19] On 10 November, he extended his contract with the Panthers from the end of 2016 to the end of 2017.[20]

2016

In February, Watene-Zelezniak was named in the Panthers' 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[21]

References

  1. ↑ McCullough, Ian (5 April 2014). "Cleary ready to unleash Penrith flyer". NRL. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  2. ↑ "Penrith’s Dallin Watene Zelezniak will make his first-grade debut against Canberra". Fox Sports. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  3. ↑ "Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  4. ↑ "Ngaruawahia teen bags debut double". Stuff.co.nz. 2014-04-06. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  5. 1 2 Massoud, Josh (21 November 2013). "Penrith whiz-kid Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on idol Will Hopoate's path". Daily Telegraph.
  6. ↑ Michael Chammas. "No rookie mistakes but Moylan could still lose Penrith fullback role to teen". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  7. 1 2 Lane, Daniel (4 April 2014). "Penrith rookie Dallin Watene-Zelezniak shapes up to a family legend". Sydney Morning Herald.
  8. ↑ "Panthers re-sign talented youngsters". Penrith Panthers. 24 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Two Penrith Panthers Star Juniors selected in NSW Under-18 Origin Side". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  10. ↑ "AUS-UNDER 18'S STATE OF ORIGIN - QLD v NSW GAME 2 – SMP Images". Smpimages.com. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  11. ↑ Michael Chammas (2014-04-05). "Dallin Watene-Zelezniak stars on debut as Panthers beat Raiders". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  12. ↑ "Four rookies in Kiwis Four Nations squad - NRL.com". M.nrl.com. 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand's Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to Miss Four Nations with Injury". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  14. ↑ "Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ‘grateful and blessed’ to be re-signed by Penrith Panthers". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  15. ↑ "Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Ruled Out of New Zealand Test Team; Jason nightingale to Start against Australia". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  16. ↑ Daniel Lane (2015-08-01). "Penrith Panthers fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's season over but slams reports about genetic condition". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  17. ↑ "Panthers Fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in hospital After suffering a Collapsed Lung". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  18. ↑ "Ferguson Leads Roosters to Panthers Pasting". The Australian. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  19. ↑ "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  20. ↑ "DWZ signs new Panthers deal | NRL". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  21. ↑ "Panthers name Auckland Nines squad". NRL.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.

External links

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