Penrith’s horror 2019 season has gone from bad to worse, with star winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak today requesting an immediate release from his contract following his shock omission ahead of Thursdays’ clash with Parramatta.
Coach Ivan Cleary had swung the axe on representative players a week prior, but made headlines yesterday when he elected to leave Watene-Zelezniak – the captain of New Zealand’s international side – out of the lineup altogether for tomorrow’s big game.
In fact, neither Dallin nor his brother Malakai will play in any grade for Penrith this weekend.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that both Parramatta and North Queensland are interested in the 23-year-old.
The news comes as a rude shock to Penrith supporters ruing the club’s terrible start to the season. After a tumultuous offseason following coach Anthony Griffin’s stunning sacking late in the season, the poaching of Ivan Cleary – largely believed to bolster the club’s chances of retaining star halfback Nathan, his son – has proved a massive flop.
Last year’s semi-finalists have won just two of their first ten matches to sit last on the ladder, with the form of both Cleary and his halves partner James Maloney very worrying.
Penrith have confirmed the news, issuing the following statement;
“Earlier this week, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s management sought permission from Panthers to speak with other NRL clubs regarding Dallin’s immediate and future playing career.
This permission was granted following discussions by the club’s retention and recruitment committee.
Out of respect for all parties, the club will be making no further comment at this time.”
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but a change of coach could do wonders.. Garrick and Herbert apparently not good enough to keep according to the judgement of a former rep centre now coach and yet both are firing in first grade elsewhere...
Albo
Roar Rookie
I guess I am a bit harsh my team’s players at times, but I particularly hate “dumb’ play from players that are well experienced in the game. Guys like DWZ and Mansour just don’t seem to have ever improved over the years of NRL experience. Whilst they often provide important roles eating metres with hit ups, they lose the ball regularly, they give away penalties whilst in possession, positional play in attack & defence is awful, and handling kicks, high or low, in attack or defence, are generally terrible. In saying all that, Mansour did have good game last night making nearly 200 run metres, missing just two tackles and only one dropped ball ( luckily Parra and Fergo in particular were playing so badly, that little pressure came onto Mansour last night). And Dylan Edwards , after dropping the very first ball, then had his best game this year. The other new young winger Brian Too had a good game as well running for 212 metres and just one dropped ball. But mistakes didn’t cost them this week. So the Panthers back three had a very much improved game over their terrible recent weeks, and they got away with a win at last. Hopefully they can gain some confidence out of that and back it up next week.
Rob
Guest
Thanks for a heads up Albo. I also respect your opinion. I don’t watch a lot of the Panthers games and especially not many this season. I don’t rate Kahu outside catching the football. Are Edwards and DWZ really that bad or is it just an unhappy place to be? We are watching a lot of Cowboys backs go down at the moment so my initial call was out of desperation.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
I can tolerate Kahu though, if we had a decent fullback we'd be playing him in his natural position, meaning his talent would be shining through more Unfortunately, I don't think DWZ is that fullback
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Good to have your opinion Albo. We seem to be becoming a mop up team. Picking up every half arsed player to come on the market. I would rather wait for the good ones or at least recruit some younger ones with potential. O Neill, Opacic, DWZ, Kahu, TMM , now there are some backs to make any defence quiver in their jerseys. Seriously, all teams need the lesser talented ,journeyman type of player but we are becoming full of them.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Don’t do it Jimmy ! I’ve been trying to get DWZ, MWZ & Mansour moved on for years ! I wouldn’t wish either of them on my least favourite team ! They are both too costly to any team, and have only lasted this long in the NRL because Gus has never valued the wing position to bother seeking out any good alternatives, and this is reflected throughout all their grades. Recent alternatives like Crichton ( now a Dogs problem) and now Too, all tarred as the same types. Mistake-a-thons.
Larry1950
Guest
DWZ dumped for Mansour who was dumped for DWZ & To'o last week, reeks of factionalism in the ranks at Penrith. Maybe being linked with guys from that 'sharing' scandal doesn't sit well with him. Reckon the cowboys probably want DWZ for his size in the carry back from kicks which is definitely a strength, Gela-Moseby is not big although quick. I liken him to SKD, great on his day but prone to having a shocker at times, there's plenty like that in the NRL. Green is supposed to be also sniffing around young bronco halback recruit Sean O'Sullivan as well, so much for 2018 Qld U20 SoO star halfback Jake Clifford being developed long term in the halves. He wasn't that bad in the few games of NRL he got, did they want an Alfie Langer immediate starring effort? Do they lose him & Jensen by not giving them a decent run of opportunities. Bart Cummings reckoned the one thing you can't teach is patience, maybe he should have been an NRL CEO.
Neel
Roar Guru
He won’t be the last one to ask for a release the way the Panthers are going at the moment. He has been out of form this season though.
Larry1950
Guest
I'm all for pedantic corrections Souvalis, but line 2 on my iPad says 'star winger' so Stirling is within his rights to declare the NZ captain a star winger (not forward) as he's probably not the problem at Penrith, maybe it's the favouritism for the underperforming coach's son.
Adam
Roar Guru
The ball sure does want to explore its options...
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Kind of like how the ball demands an immediate release from his hands.
Cold Gal
Guest
Really? He’s not there anymoooooore.
Sylvester
Guest
Yip, Panthers def losing games because of the the outside backs...
Insider
Roar Rookie
5 year plan to torch the place !
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Good call, but isn't he being enticed to join Parra?
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
That’s bloody funny. But it has to be said; where is the huge pre-season wrap on Penrith these days? A total mirage this mob.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
He is well down the pecking order of top fullbacks or wingers. Tries hard and is tough but is lacking a great step or some other factor to be in the league of the best.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It was one of the highlights of the year for me when the Pennies recruitment committee poached Frank Winterstein from Manly but it was a bad sign if you're a Panthers fan.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You know Spud I am completely undecided on DWZ. I lean towards your view that he looks like a superstar for one game then that’s all for the next five games. The thing that worries me with the Cows is they seem to throw money at the first half decent players that come along rather than wait it out for a top notch recruit. Happy to be proved wrong but unfortunately I think you are right.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Overrated! Like a lot of Panther players had a good season about three years ago and has shown glimpses few and far between ever since. If I was in charge of a club and he asked me for a release I would tear a rotator cuff grabbing a pen.