The Wests Tigers' interest in Canterbury fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has come to a crossroads after the club received an $800,000 asking price for the New Zealand international.

The Tigers' interest was confirmed earlier this week, with a potential mid-season move on the cards for the 25-year-old.

According toย Fox Sports,ย the Bulldogs would need to pay half of Watene-Zelezniak's current salary figure, with the Tigers understood to be satisfied with forking up close to $400,000.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of the Bulldogs celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the round 15 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Cronulla Sharks at ANZ Stadium on June 30, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

A move to Concord would reunite the Kiwi captain with his former New Zealand coach in Michael Maguire, but a finalised deal now looks distant as both clubs consider the monetary factors to complete the move.

Watene-Zelezniak took to Instagram shortly after the rumours of a potential move to the Tigers surfaced, stating his loyalty to the Bulldogs.

โ€œIโ€™m signed until 2022,โ€ Watene-Zelezniak wrote.

CANTERBURY NEWS:ย Bulldogs weighing up move for Sharks halfback

โ€œWe may not be winning games but I love it at the Bulldogs and the challenge that is ahead of us. The tougher the journey the better the outcome.โ€

The reports have been persistent however, with the Tigers remaining keen on securing the fullback's services.

The versatile back has played 37 games for the Bulldogs since joining from Penrith midway through the 2019 season, where he played 106 games and scored 41 tries.

3 COMMENTS

  1. How many more backs do the Tigers think they need? This bloke isn’t worth $800k a season IMO and I can’t help thinking what would he actually bring to the team that would be beneficial? When you consider that Joey Leilua and James Roberts are already there and underperforming, does the club really need another temperamental highly paid and highly strung individual who would be a risk?

  2. Certainly agree DWZ is not needed or worth 800k but he did play his best football under Madge with the kiwis.
    I would suggest the tigers should swap away one of their own overpaid players to the Bulldogs for DWZ in return. For example Joey Leilua is still contracted for next season I believe, otherwise they could offer Moses Moneybags Mbye or possibly even Luke Brooks

  3. Youโ€™d say that the Bulldogs will be stuck with DWZ. Unless they are willing to pay at least half of that amount, for him to play somewhere else.

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