One New Zealand Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has stretched his stay with the club to eight years after signing a contract extension to the end of the 2028 NRL season.
The prolific try-scorer became the 33rd player to appear in 100 NRL games for the Warriors in the round 17 clash against the Dolphins, marking the occasion with his 16th try in 15 games this campaign.
“Dallin is a terrific example of a true professional in all he does, a huge asset to the club,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“He shows so much passion in every area, providing a wonderful role model for all young players coming through our pathways. We’re thrilled to have him with us.”
Watene-Zelezniak joined the One New Zealand Warriors during the Covid-affected 2021 season before having his career-best year in the club’s homecoming campaign in 2023 when his club record 24 tries in 20 appearances saw him named in both the Dally M Team of the Year and the Players’ Dream Team.
“Dallin is a rugby league identity and a Warriors identity,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
“We’re so grateful to have him here … the person he is, most importantly a family man, but also what he brings on the weekends to the team with his energy and his fearlessness.”
Watene-Zelezniak’s try against the Dolphins lifted his total try tally for the Warriors to 75, the best strike rate (0.75 tries a game) among the club’s leading try scorers.
Just seven appearances short of his 250-game career milestone, he is averaging 139 metres a game this season while he has made 12 line breaks and 33 tackle breaks.
With his hat-trick in the season-ending win over Cronulla Sutherland in 2024, he became the sixth New Zealander and third Warrior to reach the 100-try mark in the NRL (he now has 124 tries in 243 games).
Profile | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Born: August 17, 1995
Birthplace: Hamilton, NZ
Junior clubs: College Old Boys (Hamilton), St Clair Comets (Sydney)
Position: Winger
Height: 186cm
Weight: 97kg
NRL debut: Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders, Panthers Stadium, Penrith, April 5, 2014 (Rd 5)
One New Zealand Warriors debut: v St George Illawarra Dragons, Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, July 2, 2021 (Rd 16)
Warriors No: 262
NRL appearances: 243 (2014-2026)
Penrith: 106 (2014-2019)
Canterbury Bankstown: 37 (2019-2021)
One New Zealand Warriors: 100 (2021-2026)
NRL points: 496 (124 tries)
Penrith: 164 (41 tries)
Canterbury Bankstown: 32 (8 tries)
One New Zealand Warriors: 300 (75 tries)
Representative: 13 Tests for Kiwis (2016-2022), Māori All Stars (2020-2021, 2026)
