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FWC on Sport Nation guideDallin Watene-Zelezniak extends Warriors stay to end of 2028
Sport Nation • July 6th, 2026 4:39 pm
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a spectacular effort | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
NZ Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has signed a contract extension through to the end of the 2028 NRL season, stretching his stay with the club to eight years.
The deal comes during another standout campaign for the prolific try scorer, who recently became the 33rd player to appear in 100 NRL games for the Warriors in their round 17 clash against the Dolphins.
DWZ marked the milestone in trademark fashion, crossing for his 16th try in 15 games this season and taking his Warriors tally to 75 tries, the best strike rate among the club’s leading try scorers at 0.75 tries a game.
“Dallin is a terrific example of a true professional in all he does, a huge asset to the club,” said 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.”
DWZ joined the Warriors during the Covid affected 2021 season and has since become one of the club’s most reliable finishers, highlighted by a career best 2023 homecoming campaign in which he scored a club record 24 tries in 20 appearances and was 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 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.”
The Hamilton born winger is now just seven appearances short of his 250 game career milestone, having played 243 NRL games since making his debut for Penrith back in 2014.
Across his career, DWZ has scored 124 tries, including 41 for Penrith, 8 for the Bulldogs and 75 for the Warriors.
His hat trick in the season ending win over Cronulla Sutherland in 2024 saw him become the sixth New Zealander and third Warrior to reach the 100 try mark in the NRL, further underlining his standing as one of New Zealand rugby league’s most accomplished finishers.
The flying winger has also represented the Kiwis in 13 Tests and played for the Māori All Stars in 2020, 2021 and 2026.
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