The hits keep coming for the Penrith Panthers in 2019 as back Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has asked for an immediate release according to a report in the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been one of the Penrith Panthers highest rated young stars in recent years, having played in first grade on the wing, in the centers and at fullback.
Watene-Zelezniak played a lot of fullback for the Panthers in 2018 as the club had a fantastic season as they earned a finals birth. Watene-Zelezniak was rewarded after the NRL season had concluded by being named New Zealand captain. An announcement that you would have got good odds on at australian online pokies real money.
Many questioned whether the captaincy role would be too much of a burden for a player so young. Those worries would prove to be unfounded as Dallin Watene-Zelezniak put in a man of the match performance for the Kiwi’s in an impressive 26-24 win over Australia.
Now, just 7 months later, Watene-Zelezniak finds himself on the outer at the club he made his first grade debut for. He has been dropped from first grade and will now look to continue his career elsewhere. Another Penrith Panthers junior star who will not play out his career at the foot of the mountains.
The Penrith Panthers have had a horror season in 2019. Having paid coach Ivan Cleary to join the club on a long term deal the Panthers currently sit at the foot of the ladder with just 2 wins in their first 10 games of the season.
What is worse for the Panthers is that having played brilliantly in 2018 the club locked down many of their squad to long therm deals. This is a Panthers squad that was supposed to be locked in for a long run as a premiership contender. That looks a million miles away right now as it is hard to see where the Panthers next win will be coming from.
The loss of Watene-Zelezniak will be a massive blow to the club. What is peculiar is that the Panthers coaching staff and management seem to have been pushing for this move to happen.
The Panthers take on the Parramatta Eels away from home in the upcoming round and are at long odds with the best sports betting sites. They then face a run of playing the Manly Sea Eagles, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and New Zealand Warriors over the following month.
With their form at rock bottom the Penrith Panthers have gone from looking like Premiership contenders heading into the season to now being one of the favourites for the dreaded Wooden Spoon.
