PENRITH PANTERS​

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Height: 185 cm

Weight: 98 kg

Date of Birth: 27-08-1991

Birthplace: Hamilton, New Zealand

Position: Wing, Centre, Fullback

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Malakai Watene-Zelezniak is the older brother of Panthers winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and plays for the West Tigers NRL Squad. He has been named in Tongas training squad for the qualifying 2017 World Cup match against the Cook Islands.

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On the 7th of April, 2017, Malakai played in his NRL debut playing for the Penrith Panthers and against the South Sydney Rabbitohs playing alongside his brother on the left side. During the game, Malakai assisted his brother for a try by throwing an inside ball back to Dallin. Malakai played a magnificent match to come along with his offensive chemistry with his brother, but also his defensive toughness.

 

In 2017, Malakai played 13 NRL games for the West Tigers. He provided great cover for the Tigers backline, recording 6 tries, 20 tackle breaks, 4 line breaks, 92 tackles, and a total of 1714 running metres. He looks forward to the 2018 NRL season, where hopes to make the New Zealand Kiwis side alongside his brother lie.​