Auckland, New Zealand, October 9, 2018 – Fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has today become one of the youngest captains in New Zealand rugby league history
after being named to lead the Kiwis in their Trans-Tasman Triple Header Test against the Kangaroos at Mount Smart
Stadium on Saturday (7.45pm kick-off).
The ascension to the captaincy is a triple celebration for the Hamilton-born Penrith Panthers star, who turned 23 on
August 17.
It coincides with he and his wife Purdy’s third wedding anniversary while Watene-Zelezniak emulates the achievement of
his great grandfather Tipene (Steve) Watene, one of New Zealand rugby league’s most revered figures. He was the first
Maori to captain the Kiwis in 1936-1937 and the only person who has represented the New Zealand rugby league side and
become a Member of Parliament.
“I was really humbled when Madge (Michael Maguire) offered me the chance to captain my country. It’s a huge honour,
especially following in my great grandfather’s steps,” said Kiwi No 794 Watene-Zelezniak.
His first Test as captain will be the eighth of his career since debuting against the Kangaroos in Newcastle in 2016.
“Dallin lives the values we’re looking for and embodies the new direction we’re heading in with the Kiwis,” said Kiwi
head coach Michael Maguire.
Of Maori heritage through his mother, Watene-Zelezniak is of Tongan and Polish extraction on his father’s side. With 96
NRL appearances across five seasons, he retains the fullback role he filled in the one-off Test against England in
Denver in June.
The listed 17 includes two debutants in grand final-winning Sydney Roosters centre Joseph Manu and Melbourne’s Brandon
Smith at hooker.
Tokoroa-raised 22-year-old Manu, 192cm and close to 100kg, made 26 NRL appearances this year, lifting his career tally
to 45 with a try-scoring contribution in the Roosters’ 21-6 premiership victory over the Storm.
Smith (22), born on Waiheke Island near Auckland, was used off the bench in the grand final, his 18th NRL outing in 2018
and the 21st of a first-grade career which started last year.
Another of the squad’s new faces Melbourne utility back Jahrome Hughes is named in jersey No 19.
The Kiwis’ starting pack includes four players who appeared in the grand final with another two also in the 17, Manu in
the centres and Kenny Bromwich, reunited in a Kiwi Test side with his elder brother Jesse, on the interchange.
In all 10 players who lined up in Denver are again selected – Watene Zelezniak, winger Ken Maumalo (Vodafone Warriors),
centre Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers), halfback Kodi Nikorima (Brisbane), prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters),
loose forward James Fisher-Harris and interchange forwards St George Illawarra’s Warriors-bound prop Leeson Ah Mau and
fellow front rower Marty Taupau plus Sydney Rosters second rower Isaac Liu (who was in Denver but wasn’t selected); Peta
Hiku (Vodafone Warriors) is included on the extended bench in No 18 after being used in the centres against England.
Back in the Kiwis after missing the trip to Denver are winger Jordan Rapana (Canberra), playmaker Shaun Johnson
(Vodafone Warriors), front rower Jesse Bromwich – who joins the team tonight – second rower Kevin Proctor (Gold Coast)
and Kenny Bromwich and Adam Blair (Vodafone Warriors) on the bench; Blair was originally set to make the trip to the
United States in June but was then suspended.
Saturday, October 13
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
3.05pm | Junior Kiwis v Junior Kangaroos, 3.05pm
5.15pm | Kiwi Ferns v Jillaroos, 5.15pm
7.45pm | Kiwis v Kangaroos, 7.45pm
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS v AUSTRALIAN KANGAROOS
7.45pm, Saturday, October 13, 2018
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK (c)
(Penrith Panthers)2KEN MAUMALO
(Vodafone Warriors)3ESAN MARSTERS
(Wests Tigers)4JOSEPH MANU
(Sydney Roosters)5JORDAN RAPANA
(Canberra Raiders)6SHAUN JOHNSON
(Vodafone Warriors)7KODI NIKORIMA
(Brisbane Broncos)8JESSE BROMWICH
(Melbourne Storm)9BRANDON SMITH
(Melbourne Storm)10JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
(Sydney Roosters)11KEVIN PROCTOR
(Gold Coast Titans)12ISAAC LIU
(Sydney Roosters)13JAMES FISHER-HARRIS
(Penrith Panthers)Interchange:14KENNY BROMWICH
(Melbourne Storm)15LEESON AH MAU
(St George Illawarra Dragons)16MARTIN TAUPAU
(Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)17ADAM BLAIR
(Vodafone Warriors)18PETA HIKU
(Vodafone Warriors)19JAHROME HUGHES
(Melbourne Storm)
HEAD COACH | MICHAEL MAGUIRE
NEW ZEALAND KIWIS | END OF SEASON CAMPAIGN
PlayerClubKiwi NoTests for NZLEESON AH MAUSt George Illawarra Dragons8121GERARD BEALEVodafone Warriors76710ADAM BLAIRVodafone Warriors73245JESSE BROMWICHMelbourne Storm77524KENNEATH BROMWICHMelbourne Storm7963JAMES FISHER-HARRISPenrith Panthers8012PETA HIKUVodafone Warriors78111JAHROME HUGHESMelbourne Storm--JAMAYNE ISAAKOBrisbane Broncos8081SHAUN JOHNSONVodafone Warriors77425ISAAC LIUSydney Roosters8053JOSEPH MANUSydney Roosters--ESAN MARSTERSWests Tigers8091KEN MAUMALOVodafone Warriors8101KODI NIKORIMABrisbane Broncos7909AGNATIUS PAASIVodafone Warriors--ISAIAH PAPALI’IVodafone Warriors--KEVIN PROCTORGold Coast Titans77117JORDAN RAPANACanberra Raiders7988BRANDON SMITHMelbourne Storm--JOSEPH TAPINECanberra Raiders8008MARTIN TAUPAUManly Warringah Sea Eagles78521JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVESSydney Roosters75524DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAKPenrith Panthers7947
PROGRAMME
Saturday, October 13 v Australia Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Saturday, October 27 v England KC Stadium, Hull
Sunday, November 4 v England Anfield, Liverpool
Saturday, November 10 v England Elland Road, Leeds
ends