Monday Bunker: Panthers and Tigers in player switch as clubs suffer Origin pain
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s Panthers career is over, with the New Zealand Test star bound for a rival Sydney NRL club, while the Bulldogs have signed a highly regarded forward from Melbourne.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s Panthers career is over, with the New Zealand Test star bound for a rival Sydney NRL club.
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield revealed on the Monday Bunker that Watene-Zelezniak was set to sign for Wests Tigers in the next couple of days.
“I’m told he will be at the Wests Tigers this week and a deal could be as close as 48 hours away,” Rothfield said.
DWZ TO SIGN WITH WESTS TIGERS: WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
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“He wants to go there, Michael Maguire wants him, Ivan Cleary wants him to go there — doesn’t want him on the (Penrith) books.
“What they’ve got to do now is work on a player swap or a transfer.”
New Zealand Test forwards Russell Packer, Ben Matulino and Elijah Taylor have fallen down the pecking order at the Tigers and could be part of a swap, Rothfield added.
“Whether Penrith want any of those three, I’m not too sure,” he said.
“Whether they’re interested in anyone else on the Wests Tigers roster ... that conversation is taking place. I believe the two coaches, as much as the recruitment guys, are talking this over.
“But the New Zealand Test captain last year, unwanted at Penrith, will play for the Wests Tigers.”
While Watene-Zelezniak wants out of Penrith, his arrival at Leichhardt Oval might not solve all his problems given captain Moses Mbye owns the No.1 jersey.
“He’s been very vocal for a while now about his intention to play fullback ... the interesting thing is, if he goes to the Tigers he’s going to have to give up fullback and play in the centres,” The Daily Telegraph’s Fatima Kdouh said.
DOGS BOOST BACK-ROW WITH STORM ENFORCER
The struggling Canterbury Bulldogs have boosted their NRL roster for next season with the signing of Melbourne Storm forward Joe Stimson on a three-year contract.
Stimson, 23, will inform Storm players of his decision on Tuesday and play out the remainder of the season in Melbourne before switching to Belmore.
He has played 41 NRL games for the Storm in the last three seasons.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy was keen to keep the edge forward in Melbourne but couldn’t match the offer from the Bulldogs or two other clubs that were interested.
“He’s a Storm player through and through,” said assistant coach Jason Ryles last week when questioned about the interest from premiership rivals.
The Bulldogs were originally keen to sign Stimson this year but the Storm refused to release him.
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