Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will remain at the Warriors until the end of 2027 after the NRL club announced a new deal for their prized winger two weeks before the market opens.
Previously off-contract at the end of 2025, Watene-Zelezniak would have been free to negotiate with rivals clubs from November 1 but will instead remain with the Warriors at least until he is 32.
Watene-Zelezniak’s new deal comes only days after the club permitted fellow first-choice winger Marcelo Montoya an early release to join Canterbury next season.
The Warriors will have their work cut out preventing others from leaving at the end of 2025, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Te Maire Martin, Jackson Ford and Dylan Walker among other key players able to negotiate with rivals from November.
Inspirational captain Tohu Harris is also off contract after next season but will turn 34 before the 2026 campaign begins.
Watene-Zelezniak has played his best football since joining the Warriors from Canterbury in 2021, enjoying a career-best year in 2023 as the side made its first preliminary final in 12 years.
Watene-Zelezniak was named in the Dally M team of the year in 2023 as he broke the club record for most tries in a season, crossing for the 24th time during the finals.
In 2024, club legend Shaun Johnson memorably sent him over for the try that sealed a 30-28 comeback defeat of Cronulla in the halfback’s final game for the Warriors.
In that same match, Watene-Zelezniak became the fastest player in history to reach 50 tries for the Warriors, achieving the feat in 69 appearances.
“As well as his freakish ability to score seemingly unlikely tries, what we all love about Dallin is the way he returns the ball,” said Warriors coach Andrew Webster.
“He’s so fierce and fearless.
“He has been unreal for us over the last two seasons, taking his game to a level well beyond where he was before and he can still be even better.”
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