SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 26: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of the Panthers looks dejected after defeat during the round 7 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Panthers Stadium on April 26, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Parramatta are looking at offering New Zealand captain and Penrith outside back Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a deal to join the Eels immediately.

According to NRL.com, Parramatta have spoken to Watene-Zelezniak's manager over the past week, and could offer the 23-year-old a contract over the coming weeks.

The Panthers have struggled in 2019, and the club have threatened to make some changes after their 2-7 start to the season, which sees them currently sit in last place.

The Eels want to bring Watene-Zelezniak in to play at right centre, although he's also an option at fullback given captain Clint Gutherson's situation.

Gutherson is still without a deal beyond the 2019 season, although the Eels still remain confident he'll re-sign.

Watene-Zelezniak is yet to request a release from his contract, and the Panthers are yet to grant the Eels permission to speak with him, but both all parties are reportedly aware of Parramatta's interest.

19 COMMENTS

  1. The Eels have quite a few players there from Penrith already. So why not go for an all Penrith backline?
    The Parramatta Panthers!
    Although that Panthers outfit is doing Well!
    With the sell off of & releasing of Penrith first graders over the last 4 years, I don’t suppose 1 more can make the first grade team there any worse than they are now?
    Griffin made many wasn’t to leave, Phil sold the rest that he didn’t grant releases to. Great job guys!
    Want Maloney, Whare, Mansour, Katoa as well Parramatta? They’re all slow & Katoa has zero to offer in attack.
    Time for a real rebuild!!!

  2. “Want Maloney, Whare, Mansour, Katoa as well Parramatta?” No, just DWZ for now, but thanks for offering.

  3. P.S EOD, you forgot to mention Edwards. Aren’t you shopping him around too? But anyway I don think think will be interested in him either.

  4. Who would want any dud player coming out of the last place Penrith Chocolate Soldiers/Liquorice allsorts . There is not one player worth considering.

    The club are so scrambled that the NUT.TERS🥜🥜🥜🥜🥜 even changed the clubs colours on a few occasions over their 53 year history of full on floppery. 🤣😂😆🤣😂😆🐈🥄

  5. Happy to take any half decent players from poxy Panthers. Unfortunately there really aren’t to many half decent players there.
    DWZ would make a handy back up reserve player I guess. Definitely not Eels 1st grade quality.
    Don’t blame him for wanting out of that pathetic club. He would also get the chance to call a world class stadium home instead of that dump in hicksville.

  6. Why are they even considering signing someone when they cannot even get their in form players signed up who many are off contract this year. Then I read on NRL.com that DWZ may like to play fullback and they would be prepared to move Gutherson (assuming he re-signs and they are convinced he will) out of his favoured position to the halves in the absence of Brown, then i ask myself, do they not rate Salmon, who in my opinion has been a good partner for Salmon. I really hope they abandon this idea, although it does seem a bit more advanced and I am sure Cleary and the Panthers would not object.

  7. Pathetic? This season is a write off, thanks Dave O’Neil. The club made it to three consecutive finals.

  8. He would be a awesome pick up for the cowboys who are looking for a fullback. He would definitely fit in with this bunch.
    1. DWZ
    2. Fedlt
    3. Kahu
    4. O’Neil/Tuala
    5. MacDonald

  9. I think the Eels #1 priority should be re-signing Gutherson, Moses and Brad Arthur. It bothers me as a Eels fan that it does not bother them if Gutherson goes.

  10. DWZ is not even available. So why is Parramatta even asking about him? Shouldn’t be looking to break the rules there almighty.
    Kev said the Eels had plenty of backline talent coming up through the grades. So why are Parramatta trying to buy a player that they’re not even supposed to negotiate with & another from Penrith?

  11. Well the French national colours , jumper & national anthem were already gone Wood Rot.
    Do you think they should have used some other countries colours, jumper & national anthem music as their own perhaps? Then just stuck with that.
    When your Nuggets had those choices to make , there were no teams. Yet, let’s be France is the best they could come up with?

  12. You said Parramatta had good players coming up through the grades 2041/ Kev.
    Yet they’re looking to negotiate with a player who isn’t available, didn’t say he wanted to leave ? Also another one from Penrith.
    Can’t be a great deal of wonderful backs coming through in the Poxy Parramatta juniors then buddy.
    Also, DWZ would be Parramatta’s first choice fullback , when Gutherson leaves at the end of the year.

  13. Wasn’t Kahu bought to be the fullback there?
    The Cowboys should be careful about buying any NZ players who are at Penrith. Te Maire Martin was bought from there & he was going to be brilliant wasn’t he? Oh Well, guess not.

  14. I’d take part of your point about ridiculous decisions from the club Wood Cloggs. There have been many! Getting Gus to handle the roster , letting him sign / resign Griffin without asking any one . Then the club getting Ivan back just adds to the Mystery.
    I have asked why about the Roster & who’ve they let go many times over the last few years on here. Also didn’t think they should get Ivan back or do it the way they did.
    Yet the lower & junior grades have continued to do quite well thanks. Maybe that was one good thing Gus did help with.
    So try as you may . You’re just wrong about the juniors . That’s why your nuggets continue to buy some themselves. Pretend as you may that they don’t . 👍

  15. Hey Kev/2041…
    What were you saying about a pathetic club & players not being of first grade standard?
    64-10 says everything about Parramatta that we need to know. Guess no premiership for the Eels this year either.
    Last or not having any chance of winning the premiership? Doesn’t make a huge difference. It’s all just making up the numbers & try again next year !! 👍

  16. EOD, I agree.
    I know clubs aren’t allowed to approach players until their final year (from Nov.).
    I thought they included the player agents in this now as well, to try and stop/minimise players approaching clubs, but there’s clearly still a loophole/s.
    The L. Mitchell story, now this 1.

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