
Panthers star DWZ finds shock new NRL home
The struggling Canterbury Bulldogs have been given a much needed-boost by beating a host of NRL rivals to sign Kiwi Test captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Watene-Zelezniak has inked an 18-month deal to join the club and will line-up for the Bulldogs as early as next week.
Wests Tigers, Parramatta and North Queensland all chased Watene-Zelezniak who left the Panthers last Friday but his decision to join the Bulldogs is a massive vote of confidence for the club.
The Tigers pushed hard to reunite Watene-Zelezniak with his Kiwi Test coach Michael Maguire but salary cap restrictions failed to allow that to happen.
There were reports Watene-Zelezniak had agreed to terms with the Tigers, but the club failed to move on at least one high profile player to accommodate him.
It is expected Watene-Zelezniak will play fullback for the Bulldogs in their clash against the Roosters next Sunday.
His arrival gives the struggling Bulldogs a huge boost after a tough 2019 campaign. They also landed Melbourne back-rower Joe Stimson recently on a three-year deal from 2020.
Watene-Zelezniak, 23, played 106 top grade games for the Panthers.