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| Full name | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1995-08-17)17 August 1995 (age 29) Hamilton, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97 kg (15 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing, Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:[1] As of 10 May 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (brother) Steve Watene (great grandfather) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (born 17 August 1995) is a New Zealand professionalrugby league footballer who plays as awinger orfullback for theNew Zealand Warriors in theNational Rugby League (NRL) andNew Zealand at international level.
He previously played for thePenrith Panthers and theCanterbury Bulldogs in the NRL.
Watene-Zelezniak was born inHamilton, New Zealand, and is from theMāori,Tongan andPolish descent and is from theWaikato TainuiIwi. Watene-Zelezniak lived inNgāruawāhia,[2] before moving toSydney, New South Wales, Australia as a 5-year old.
He played his junior rugby league for theSt Clair Comets, before being signed by thePenrith Panthers.[3] He attended St.Dominic’s College, Penrith andPatrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.[4]
Watene-Zelezniak is the great-grandson of formerNew Zealand rugby league captain and politician,Steve Watene.[5] Dallin is the younger brother of formerPenrith Panthers andWests Tigers wingerMalakai Watene-Zelezniak.
In April 2013, Watene-Zelezniak re-signed with the Panthers on a 2-year contract.[6] On 26 June 2013, in the curtain raiser to Game 2 of the2013 State of Origin series, Watene-Zelenziak played for New South Wales under 18’s against Queensland under 18’s atSuncorp Stadium, scoring a hattrick of tries in the 56-6 smashing win.[7][8] On 6 October 2013, Watene-Zelezniak played in the Panthers2013 Holden Cup Grand Final against theNew Zealand Warriors, playing on the wing in the 42–30 victory.[9] Watene-Zelezniak was also selected to play for both theAustralian Schoolboys team andJunior Kiwis team. He eventually chose to play for the Junior Kiwis.[10] On 13 October 2013, Watene-Zelezniak played for the Junior Kiwis against theJunior Kangaroos, playing on the wing and scoring 2 tries in the 38–26 loss atWIN Stadium.[11]
In 2014, Watene-Zelezniak moved on to play in the PanthersNSW Cup team, before being included in the Panthers first grade squad. In Round 5 of the2014 NRL season, Watene-Zelezniak made his NRL debut for thePenrith Panthers against theCanberra Raiders, scoring 2 tries on debut in the Panthers 12–6 win atPenrith Stadium.[12] While playing in the Panthers NSW Cup side, Watene-Zelezniak was hit with a 4-match suspension after he performed an eye gouge on aWyong Roos player during their 32–24 win.[13] Watene-Zelezniak finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 10 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Panthers in the2014 NRL season. On 7 October 2014, Watene-Zelezniak's impressive late season form saw him included in theNew Zealand national rugby league team 24-man squad for the2014 Four Nations. However he was later ruled out after he suffered a foot injury at training.[14][15]
On 5 February 2015, Watene-Zelezniak extended his contract with the Panthers until the end of 2016.[16] On 28 April 2015, Watene-Zelezniak was ruled out of making his international debut for New Zealand in the2015 Anzac Test after he was charged with a dangerous throw onCronulla-Sutherland Sharks playerWade Graham. The suspension denied Watene-Zelezniak his New Zealand debut for the second time in 6-months.[17] In Round 18, against theSydney Roosters, Watene-Zelezniak suffered a collapsed lung during the Panthers 24–4 loss atPenrith Stadium and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[18][19][20] Watene-Zelezniak finished off the2015 NRL season with him playing in 16 matches and scoring 7 tries for the Panthers.[21] On 10 November 2015, Watene-Zelezniak extended his contract with the Panthers until the end of 2017.[22]
In February, Watene-Zelezniak was named in the Panthers'2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[23] On 6 May 2016, Watene-Zelezniak made his international debut for New Zealand againstAustralia in the2016 Anzac Test, playing on the wing in the 16–0 loss atHunter Stadium.[24][25] Watene-Zelezniak finished the2016 NRL season with him playing in all of the Panthers 26 matches and scoring 12 tries.
At the end of season, Watene-Zelezniak was selected in the New Zealand 24-man squad for the2016 Four Nations. Watene-Zelezniak played in one match in the tournament, playing at fullback in the Kiwis 18-all draw againstScotland atDerwent Park.[26]
On 3 April 2017, Watene-Zelezniak extended his contract with the Panthers to the end of the 2020 season.[27] On 5 May 2017, Watene-Zelezniak played for New Zealand againstAustralia in the2017 Anzac Test, playing on the wing in the 30–12 loss atCanberra Stadium.[28] On 22 July 2017, Watene-Zelezniak was involved in an ugly incident at a junior rugby league match. The Kiwi international who was volunteering as a touch judge between his junior club theSt Clair Comets and the St Mary Saints was abused by an official from St Mary's after he put his flag up to signify a St Mary’s player had stepped into touch, the altercation would become physical, with the official putting his hands around the Panthers star’s neck and wrestling with him. "It was very ugly and parents and officials had to take the kids across the field before a few people eventually broke it up," an eyewitness explained.[29] The official was later copped with a lifetime ban from Junior Rugby League.[30] Watene-Zelezniak finished the2017 NRL season with him playing in 24 matches and scoring 9 tries for the Panthers. On 5 October 2017, Watene-Zelezniak was named in the 24-man New Zealand Kiwis squad for the2017 Rugby League World Cup.[31] On 11 November 2017, in the Kiwis entertaining clash againstTonga, Watene-Zelezniak scored his first try for the Kiwis in the shock 28–22 loss atWaikato Stadium.[32] Watene-Zelezniak played in 3 matches and scored 1 try for the Kiwis in their disappointing World Cup campaign.
On 9 June 2019, Watene-Zelezniak was released from his contract with thePenrith Panthers effective immediately to sign with theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Watene-Zelezniak made a total of 10 appearances for Canterbury in his first year at the club. During the mid-way part of the season, Canterbury found themselves sitting last on the table and in real danger of finishing with the wooden spoon. However, for the third straight season, Canterbury achieved four upset victories in a row overPenrith, theWests Tigers,South Sydney andParramatta who were all competing for a place in the finals series and were higher on the table. Canterbury ended the season in 12th place.[33][34]
In round 12 of the2020 NRL season against arch rivals Parramatta, Watene-Zelezniak played the ball in the opposite direction giving a penalty to Parramatta in which they scored off the next play. Canterbury would go on to lose the match 18-16 atANZ Stadium leaving them on the bottom of the table.[35]
He made a total of 18 appearances for Canterbury in the2020 NRL season. The club finished in 15th place on the table, only avoiding theWooden Spoon by for and against.[36]
In round 1 of the2021 NRL season, he scored two tries for Canterbury in a 32-16 loss against Newcastle.[37]
On 20 June, Watene-Zelezniak played his final game for Canterbury in round 15 againstParramatta which ended in a 36-10 defeat.
He then signed a three-and-a-half-year deal to join theNew Zealand Warriors effective immediately.[38]
On 2 July, Watene-Zelezniak played his first game for theNew Zealand Warriors in a one point loss toSt. George Illawarra.
He made a total of 19 appearances for the New Zealand Warriors in the2022 NRL season as they finished 15th on the table.[39]
In October he was named in theNew Zealand squad for the2021 Rugby League World Cup.[40] In the second group stage match at the2021 Rugby League World Cup, Watene-Zelezniak scored four tries in New Zealand's 68-6 victory over Jamaica.[41]#
In round 8 of the2023 NRL season, Watene-Zelezniak scored two tries in New Zealand's 30-22 loss againstMelbourne.[42]In round 14, Watene-Zelezniak scored two tries for New Zealand in their 30-8 victory over theDolphins.[43]In round 17, Watene-Zelezniak scored four tries as New Zealand defeatedSt. George Illawarra 48-18.[44]In round 20, Watene-Zelezniak scored two tries for New Zealand in their 44-12 victory overCronulla.[45]In round 25, Watene-Zelezniak scored ahat-trick in the clubs 29-22 victory over Manly.[46]He played 24 games for the New Zealand Warriors in the 2023 NRL season and scored 27 tries as the club finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals. He played in all three finals games as the club reached the preliminary final before being defeated by Brisbane.[47]He earned a place in the Dally M team of the year. Finishing with fellow Kiwi's Teammate Jamayne Issako, as Wingers of the year.
In round 26 of the2024 NRL season, Watene-Zelezniak scored his 100th first grade try in the New Zealand Warriors 30-28 victory over Cronulla. Watene-Zelezniak played 22 games for the club throughout the season and scored 15 tries as they missed the finals.[48] On 18 October 2024, Watene-Zelezniak had re-signed with the Warriors until the end of 2027.[49]
On 12 February, it was announced that Watene-Zelezniak would be ruled out indefinitely after dislocating his wrist during the New Zealand Warriors trial game against Cronulla.[50]
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 |  Penrith Panthers | 10 | 7 | 28 |
| 2015 | 16 | 7 | 28 | |
| 2016 | 26 | 12 | 48 | |
| 2017 | 24 | 9 | 36 | |
| 2018 | 20 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2019 | Penrith Panthers | 10 | 1 | 4 |
 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 10 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2020 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 18 | 2 | 8 |
| 2021 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 9 | 5 | 20 |
 New Zealand Warriors | 9 | 4 | 16 | |
| 2022 | New Zealand Warriors | 18 | 9 | 36 |
| 2023 | 20 | 24 | 96 | |
| 2024 | 22 | 15 | 60 | |
| 2025 | ||||
| Totals | 212 | 101 | 404 |
source[51]
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak with his brother started a watch company called W Zelezniak.[52][53]Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is the younger brother of former NRL playerMalakai Watene-Zelezniak[54]
