Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s move to the Warriors is complete after being farewelled with a haka by Canterbury teammates.
Watene-Zelezniak told Bulldogs players in the sheds after their 36-10 loss to Parramatta he had played his last game for the NRL club.
Warriors go down in the Newcastle rain.
That prompted an impromptu haka in the sheds at Bankwest Stadium, led by Bulldogs welfare manager Luke Goodwin.
“Dal has been a big part of our squad for the past two years now,” Bulldogs fullback Nick Meaney said.
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“He spoke to us as a playing group, we are all pretty tight, he said his words, and it’s very emotional losing one of your close mates.”
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Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will be with the Warriors through to the end of the 2024 season.
The Kiwi captain has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Warriors as part of a mid-season merry-go-round of NRL talent.
The Warriors had recently released winger Ken Maumalo to Wests Tigers, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will head to New Zealand rugby at the end of the season.
Watene-Zelezniak’s exit also comes as part of a backline overhaul at the Bulldogs, freeing up further cap space with Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden and Matt Burton arriving in 2022.
Last Thursday Stuff reported that a deal has been struck for the Kiwis captain to join the Warriors immediately, on a three and a half year deal, having been given an early release from his contract by the Bulldogs.
Watene-Zelezniak will join the Warriors through to the end of the 2024 season and is content to play on the wing and allow exciting Brisbane Broncos recruit Reece Walsh to be the teams fullback.
Additional reporting Stuff
