NRL

Veteran winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak remains in the mix to earn a late call-up for the New Zealand Warriors’ sudden death Week 2 finals showdown with the Newcastle Knights.

Speaking ahead of the sold-out match at Auckland’s Eden Park, Warriors coach Andrew Webster said the 31-year-old was desperate to return from the broken collarbone he suffered in Round 25.

Named on the extended reserves bench earlier in the week, Webster heaped praise on Watene-Zelezniak’s determination and commitment to get back on the field.

“He’s inspirational Dal, he’s fearless, he just wants to play so badly for the team,” Webster said, explaining the winger still has to ‘tick a lot of boxes’ to come into the match-day lineup.

MORE: NRL 2026 Team Lists: Every club’s confirmed lineup for Week 2

“I’ve had to hold him back a bit to calm down… he’s saying, ‘Nup, give me an opportunity’,” Webster added.

“The science is probably against him and he might not get there, but we will give him every chance.”

‘A lot of history, it’s a special place’ says Webster

While disappointed his side’s Eden Park match will take place in Week 2 of the NRL finals and not next week’s preliminary finals, Andrew Webster said his players have embraced the ‘different path’ they’re now on in the quest to win the club’s first-ever NRL premiership.

“We were disappointed we lost (to the Dolphins), we wanted to win… but if we win this week we are back where we wanted to be, and that’s in a grand final qualifier,” he said.

“We get to come here (Eden Park) with the biggest crowd in Warriors history on New Zealand soil… there’s a lot of history, it’s a special place.”

NRL

‘A lot of history, it’s a special place’ says Webster

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