DWZ fears for game's long-term image

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has backed the NRL's stance to come down hard on players for misdemeanours that bring the game's image into disrepute.

After an off-season to forget for the NRL with sexual assault charges, lewd videos and pending court cases dominating the headlines over the summer, the culture in rugby league has never come under more scrutiny.

Watene-Zelezniak was the Panthers' representative to dial in for Todd Greenberg's conference call on Monday in which the NRL boss vented his frustration over the recent off-field behaviour of players.

"People that don't know you stereotype you because of what has been going on, they think all footballers are the same where I'm the total opposite," he told NRL.com.

"A few mistakes people have made, you've got to realise that all of us suffer, not just the one person. We had the conference call and it's true, it's going to kill the game, I feel.

"No one wants that but we've got a reputation to live up to. We're role models for kids. You can't have kids thinking this is the normal thing when you come into the NRL.

"I pride myself on how I am off the field and the example I want to set for my kids."

A devoted Mormon, Watene-Zelezniak is big on his faith but often feels misunderstood when it comes to his opinion towards poor player behaviour in the code.

The 23-year-old New Zealand Test captain said it wasn't easy to pull a teammate into line when they were making poor choices away from the training paddock after calls for stronger leadership from senior players at clubs.

"People think because of how I am that I judge people and tell them you shouldn't be doing this but I'm the total opposite," he said.

"It's disappointing but I don't like judging people, they may have other things in their life that might be happening too, who knows.

"Everyone is here to make their own choices and make their life what they want it to be. If that's how they want to do it then they do it and the NRL will punish them accordingly.

"If that's how a player wants to be portrayed then so be it. No one should have an opinion on that but for me we've got rules inside rugby league and we should be setting examples for kids."

Watene-Zelezniak has emerged as a captaincy option for Ivan Cleary's Panthers in 2019 after leading the Kiwis in October.

We're role models for kids. You can't have kids thinking this is the normal thing when you come into the NRL.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Cleary handed Watene-Zelezniak his NRL debut in 2014 but the coach has noticed a massive difference in the player since returning to the club recently.

"The last time Ivan was here was when I got married and I was leaning on him to talk about marriage," Watene-Zelezniak said.

"In the time he's been gone I'm now married with two kids, am in the club's leadership group and had the opportunity to captain my country.

"He said, 'You've really grown up and matured'."