Prolific try-scoring winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is on track to take his One New Zealand Warriors career into a seventh season after signing a two-year contract extension.
Coming off the two most productive campaigns of his 11-season NRL career, the seasoned 29-year-old international will be with the club until the end of 2027.
“There’s no doubt the move to the Warriors in 2021 has been of tremendous benefit to Dallin’s game,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“He had the best season of his career in 2023 and maintained his level this year by again finishing as the club’s top try scorer.
“He thrives on being at the Warriors and living in Auckland, matching his enthusiasm and energy on the field with the same sort of passion off it.”
Watene-Zelezniak was named in both the Dally M Team of the Year and the Players’ Dream Team in 2023 after scoring a club record 24 tries in 20 games and following it up with 15 tries in 22 appearances this year.
The moment: Last play of SJ's career - a match-winner
“As well as his freakish ability to score seemingly unlikely tries, what we all love about Dallin is the way he returns the ball,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
“He’s so fierce and fearless. I wouldn’t like to tackle him ... he just gives us so much energy, inspiration and momentum.
“He has been unreal for us over the last two seasons, taking his game to a level well beyond where he was before and he can still be even better.”
Trademark DWZ finish seals 50-try milestone for club
Watene-Zelezniak finished 2024 by achieving two major career milestones while scoring a hat-trick in the One New Zealand Warriors’ stunning 30-28 season-ending comeback win over the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks on August 31.
Going into the match sitting on 49 tries for the club and 98 for his career, the first try made him the 10th player to score 50 tries for the Warriors and his second the 83rd in history (the sixth New Zealander and third Warrior) to reach the 100-try mark in the NRL. He capped his treble with the match-winner from the last play of the game.
Watene-Zelezniak's 100th try off pinpoint Johnson kick
Watene-Zelezniak’s 50 tries for the Warriors has come in just 69 games, the fastest in the club’s history topping David Fusitu’a who took 77 matches to reach the mark.
Joining the One New Zealand Warriors midway through the 2021 season, Watene-Zelezniak also made his 200th career appearance during the 2024 campaign.
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: 212 (2014-2024)
Penrith: 106 (2014-2019)
Canterbury Bankstown: 37 (2019-2021)
One New Zealand Warriors: 69 (2021-2024)
NRL points: 404 (101 tries)
Penrith: 164 (41 tries)
Canterbury Bankstown: 32 (8 tries)
One New Zealand Warriors: 208 (52 tries)
Representative: 13 Tests for Kiwis (2016-2022), Māori All Stars (2020-2021)
