Dallin Watene-Zelezniak owns up to crucial ­mistake that proves costly in Panthers’ loss to Dragons

DALLIN Watene-Zelezniak has owned up to the crucial ­mistake that cost his team in Penrith’s 16-14 loss to St George ­Illawarra.

Tariq Sims steals the ball from Penrith's Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score a try for the Dragons. Picture: Brett Costello

DALLIN Watene-Zelezniak had every reason to go into hiding.

Instead, the 22-year-old was standing outside the Penrith dressing sheds smiling like new dads tend to do.

He was also owning up to the crucial ­mistake that cost his team in the 16-14 loss to St George ­Illawarra.

On a day when the Panthers suffered their first defeat in eight games that now has them fighting to save their season heading into Sunday’s clash with Manly at Lottoland, ­Watene-Zelezniak was left to carry the burden.

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Tariq Sims steals the ball from Penrith's Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score a try for the Dragons. Picture: Brett Costello

It came after he was forced to switch from winger to fullback at half-time to fill in for the injured Dylan Edwards, who suffered a knee injury.

Watene-Zelezniak, who had his week turned upside down after the arrival of his first born on Thursday night, was returning a kick in the 56th minute when Tariq Sims stripped him of possession and raced away with the try that gave the Dragons the lead they carried through to full-time.

“I wasn’t really expecting it,” he said.

“He (Sims) is a big boy, so I was trying to get over the top of him. I think that was the game-changer, too.”

Dylan Edwards injured his knee and didn’t finish the game.

But it was the life-changer that occurred at precisely 7.01pm on Thursday that gave him hope that better days lay ahead. He told how he was in the hospital holding his wife Purdy’s hand when little ­Orlando Filisomu’u Robert Watene-Zelezniak arrived.

“I know words can’t ­describe it but it is amazing,” Watene-Zelezniak said.

“He is finally here. It has been a pretty busy week. It is time to grow up. I have responsibilities now, looking after ­another person.

“I am going back to spend some time with them. Have a sleep with them. And apologise. I am glad he can’t really see the game.”

But even in defeat it was hard not to be proud of the Panthers’ effort.

While they came up with mistakes at crucial times the one thing that was never missing was effort. Not in Watene-Zelezniak’s performance, or that of any of his teammates.

Corey Harawira-Naera on the charge for the Panthers.

After starting the season as one of the favourites to take the title, the Panthers have had their ups and downs. But at the right time of the year they are certainly playing with commitment, even in defeat.

“It was a lot of effort but we were just our own worst enemies today,” Anthony Griffin said. “We paid a price for it.

“It was a big game, a big prize at the end. I couldn’t have been happier with their ­endeavour and we had the game in our grasp a few times but we just were a little bit our own worst enemy.”

Edwards will have scans on Monday to determine the extent of the damage to his left knee.

“We just will wait and see,” Griffin said.