Kiwis’ captaincy surprise choice
Michael Maguire has well and truly stamped his mark on the Kiwis with the appointment of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as captain.
The Panthers fullback was the surprise choice as Maguire announced his side to meet Australia in Auckland on Saturday, which includes two debutants in hooker Brandon Smith and centre Joseph Manu.
Former skipper Jesse Bromwich has also been named to start at prop and was expected to join the squad yesterday following the birth of his third child.
At just 23, Watene-Zelezniak, who has played seven tests since his debut in 2016, is one of the youngest captains in New Zealand rugby league history. And his appointment ahead of more experienced campaigners, such as last year’s World Cup captain Adam Blair, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and halfback Shaun Johnson, is one few saw coming.
So much so that even the man himself had trouble believing it when Maguire called him about the role two weeks ago.
‘‘I was quiet and I looked at my wife and was like, ‘did he just say what I think he said’,’’ Watene-Zelezniak said.
But after having a night to sleep on it and seeking the advice of his family, Penrith general manager Phil Gould and coach Cameron Ciraldo, it was an easy decision.
‘‘I’m very grateful and privileged to be able to lead this team. I’ll be doing anything and everything I can to be able to lead with my actions on and off the field. I have values in my life that I go by and lead my family at home by.
‘‘I’m a massive family person and family is what gets me going in games. So to be able to lead these boys out is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.’’
Watene-Zelezniak’s great-grandfather, Steve Watene, was the first Ma¯ ori captain of the Kiwis in the 1930s.
He was honoured to continue the family’s legacy in the black and white jersey.
‘‘I think he’s smiling down on me at the moment,’’ Watene-Zelezniak said.
‘‘He was actually in Parliament as well so he led on and off the field and that’s something I’d love to do as well – lead on and off the field.’’
Following the appointment of Maguire and NZRL chief executive Greg Peters in May, Watene-Zelezniak’s rise completes a fresh look to the Kiwis’ leadership after last year’s disastrous World Cup.
Maguire opted not to appoint an official captain for the mid-year test against England in Denver to survey his options.
He was highly impressed with the conversations they had in the US. And once the coach decided to go with youth, Watene-Zelezniak was a standout choice.
‘‘I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of great players in my coaching career and a lot of the things Dallin was talking about were the reasons why people have had success in the game,’’ Maguire said. ‘‘Everyone’s a leader in some form but I think he’s going to represent us in the right way.’’
The Kiwis embark on a three-test tour of England after the Australia test but Maguire did not confirm if the appointment was permanent, other than to say: ‘‘Dallin will be a big leader of our team moving forward for a long period of time.’’