NZ Warriors have suffered their first injury casualty of the 2022 NRL season, with winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak breaking a thumb in the season-opening 28-16 loss to St George Dragons.
On Instagram, Watene-Zelezniak, 26, has posted an x-ray of his broken left thumb, sustained during the early stages of Saturday's defeat.
"Ahhh, the ups and downs of rugby league," Watene-Zelezniak writes. "Before you ask and those that have already messaged me what was wrong yesterday, I broke my thumb at the start of the game!"
Despite the injury, he played the entire 80 minutes of the Warriors' first-up loss and scored the their opening try in the 19th minute.
Watene-Zelezniak made 11 runs for 65 metres, one hit-up,and one tackle - but also an understandable four handling errors.
The club has released no official word on the extent of Watene-Zelezniak's injury nor how long he'll be sidelined, but the Kiwis captain is likely out of action for the the round two clash against Gold Coast Titans.
Join us at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Titans NRL clash
