Promising winger Haizyn Mellars has been lured home by the Warriors, signing from the South Sydney Rabbitohs on a three-year deal until the end of the 2028 NRL season.
The 21-year-old was born in Auckland while his dad, former Warriors centre Vince Mellars, was with the club, before moving toAustralia and then England, while his mother, Charmian Mellars, was a member of the Tall Ferns’ 2008 Beijing Olympics squad.
Haizyn Mellars, who stands at 1.93m, was part of the Rabbitohs’ NRL squad this year, but hamstring injuries have meant he’s yet to make his debut, although he has played nine times for their reserves, scoring seven tries, including four in his past two outings.
If Mellars does make his NRL debut for the Warriors next year, he, alongside his father, would become the first father-and-son combination to play for the club.
There will be competition for the honour, with Jett Cleary – whose dad Ivan Cleary played for the club between 2000-02 (later coaching the Auckland side too) – to become the first duo to achieve the feat, but the former is on a development contract next season and not on an NRL deal until 2027.
Mellars said that after speaking with Warriors coach Andrew Webster, it was an easy decision to sign.
Vince Mellars inn action for the Warriors, just three days before his son was born. Photo / Photosport
“Joining the Warriors is a blessing and is something that means a lot to me and my family,” Mellars said.
“I’m excited to get back home and develop my game alongside the coaching staff and the boys in particular and also learn off some of those senior guys.”
Mellars will provide much-needed outside-back depth to the Warriors, an area where they have struggled this season. It also offsets the confirmed departures of Ed Kosi and Moala Graham-Taufa, who have signed with the Rabbitohs.
Webster said he was excited to bring Mellars to the club.
“Haizyn has so much going for him,” Webster said. “He’ll add depth and he’ll be able to learn from the experienced players he’ll have around him in the outside backs.”
Earlier this month, Ali Lauitiiti’s daughter Ivana Lauitiiti made her NRLW debut to give the club its first case of a father and daughter making their top-level debut for the club.
The bulk of the Warriors’ squad for next season is nearly complete with second-rower Kayliss Fatialofa signing a two-year deal earlier this week, while Te Maire Martin also re-signed.
Jye Linnane (Knights) and Morgan Gannon (Leeds) have also signed on for next season, while Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale and Morgan Harper remain unsigned.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
