Life ban for league official over attack
The rugby league official who attacked Penrith winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak during a junior rugby league game has been banned for life.
Watene-Zelezniak was on Monday cleared of any wrongdoing in an altercation with a St Marys team trainer while volunteering as a touch judge between St Marys and St Clair junior clubs.
The 21-year-old was allegedly abused and manhandled on the sideline, just hours before playing in the Panthers' win over Gold Coast on Saturday.
St Marys moved quickly to ban the trainer for life and publicly apologised to the Watene-Zelezniak family and the game.
"We are extremely disappointed with the actions of the team trainer and wish to state the club has a zero tolerance policy for such behaviour," the St Marys club said in a statement.
"As such the trainer concerned has been stood down from duties effective immediately and been issued with a life suspension, prohibiting him from being involved with St Marys Junior Rugby League Club in any official capacity.
"St Marys Rugby League unequivocally apologies (sic) to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and his family, St Clair Junior Rugby League club, all players, officials and spectators who witnessed the incident and to the Penrith District Junior Rugby League for the unfortunate actions of an individual which has sadly brought our club and our game into disrepute."
Penrith District Junior Rugby League general manger Phil Cummings on Monday cleared Watene-Zelezniak after reviewing the incident, including analysing of CCTV vision.
Watene-Zelezniak, a New Zealand international, scored a try in the Panthers' eight-point win over the Titans, keeping their chances alive for a finals spot.
