NRL fans erupt at star's stunning message to former club
Penrith discard Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has left rugby league fans in a spin after a superb display against his former club.
In his first game against the Panthers, Bulldogs recruit Watene-Zelezniak guided his side to an upset win against his former employers.
The Dogs' No.1 put in an impressive display to help Canterbury to a 16-8 upset win on Saturday.
Watene-Zelezniak showed some clean hands in setting up the go-ahead try for Nick Meaney in the second half.
The Bulldogs No.1 then came up with a trysaving tackle on Liam Martin before Jack Cogger sealed the victory with a solo effort four minutes later.
DWZ with the try saver! #NRLBulldogsPanthers 10-8 with 22 minutes to go. #NRL pic.twitter.com/lEr3chR08v
— NRL (@NRL) August 3, 2019
Panthers fans let Watene-Zelezniak know how they felt about his sudden exit with a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball early in the contest.
But the fullback responded with a number of touches in a fifth minute opening try for winger Reimis Smith.
As well as Lachlan Lewis's try-saving tackle on opposite number Nathan Cleary, the Bulldogs fullback's incredible effort to deny Martin a try, were the highlights of the match.
Fans were quick to laud Watene-Zelezniak's performance on social media.
Happy for DWZ. Such a gun footballer. #NRLBulldogsPanthers
— Jono P #YNWA 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@Jono5785) August 3, 2019
DWZ wasn’t a part of Cleary’s clique at Penrith.....but repaid his old coach tonight in kind @NRL_Bulldogs @PenrithPanthers #bestonground
— Kyng74 (@AdamBro74) August 3, 2019
DWZ: “It’s just great as a fullback to have players listening to me in defence.”
CC: @PenrithPanthers— The Cumberland Throw (@EelsTCT) August 3, 2019
Salty panthers fans giving it to DWZ, lol.
— B R A D (@bradfogarty95) August 3, 2019
I understand Penrith struggle to score points but for a Dogs side with not much to play for yet turn up effort on effort shows fantastic character. Side Note..... Thanks Ivan for DWZ in a dull year he has been a shining light. How he isn’t better then Edwards is laughable 😂😂😂
— Paul (@p_jaym) August 3, 2019
🙌🙌 hopefully DWZ is turning it around for us
— daniel (@nerfkido2) August 3, 2019
How good is DWZ! The purpose and effort in everything he does is inspiring. Love it. #ProudToBeABulldog
— Pete (@pjdog11) August 3, 2019
Great effort today @NRL_Bulldogs defense was outstanding and massive shout out to Dwz what a magnificent game
— Bill Hayek (@BiLLyBoiiiiii) August 3, 2019
Great game from #dwz! Didn’t seem at all bothered by all the booing from panthers fans. Dogs 🐶 definitely better than cats 🐱 #proudtobeabulldog #NRLBulldogsPanthers
— 💧Sharon Good (@SharonEGood) August 3, 2019
The Bulldogs had to overcome the first-half sin-binning of veteran Aiden Tolman in his 200th game for the club.
A crowd of 10,062 at Bankwest Stadium - Canterbury's first at the new venue - were treated to one of the Bulldogs' grittiest defensive efforts of the season.
The 15th-placed outfit defended a remarkable 47 plays inside their 20-metre zone, compared to just 16 down the opposite end of the field.
The defeat was not only Penrith's second in a row, but leaves them in real danger of dropping out of the top eight should Cronulla win later on Saturday night.
With just five games remaining in the regular season, it also all but extinguishes any chance they had of sneaking into the top four.
It was a frustrating night from the Panthers, who could muster just one try despite boasting NSW State of Origin stars James Maloney and Cleary.
Making matters worse, Maloney was placed on report for tripping in the second half.
After the Bulldogs' quick start, Penrith got one back through Brent Naden ten minutes later, and the rookie should've made it a double but failed to cleanly ground a Maloney grubber.
It was one of the few genuine opportunities the Panthers failed to convert despite holding a 24-7 advantage in plays inside the opposition 20 in the first half.
With AAP
