The 18-year-old's great-grandfather Steve Watene is one of New Zealand rugby league's most revered figures. He represented the Kiwis during the 1930s, was the first Maori to captain that country and, in 1937, led New Zealand Maori to a famous victory over the Kangaroos.

He became a Member of Parliament in later life, had a road at Mount Wellington named in his honour and was proclaimed a New Zealand Legend of League in 2008.The Watene Medal is awarded to the NZRL's player of the year.

Watene-Zelezniak, who'll mark the Raiders' Bill Tupou at Sportingbet Stadium, speaks passionately about his desire to honour his ancestor. He said Watene's achievements were the reason he promised his late grandfather Tuhoea - one of Watene's 12 children - he'd pledge his allegiance to Aotearoa should he ever get the chance.

He did that last year when, despite representing NSW in the under 20s Origin match, he handed back an Australian Schoolboys jumper when he was also picked for the opposing Junior Kiwis.

"Two years ago my grandfather passed away and he always wanted someone in our family to play first grade and play for the Kiwis, so that decision was easy for me," he said of his Kiwi pledge. "I wouldn't say I turned my back on Origin and Australia, it's more where I was going to play my best at.

"It wasn't about money or anything except where I felt comfortable and where I felt I could play my best."

Watene-Zelezniak's mother Kara said the family's ties to rugby league had helped to inspire her son to focus on making his mark in the NRL.

"Dallin started playing at age four at a club my father and his brothers started in Hamilton [NZ] called College Old Boys and the club is still going," she told Fairfax Media. "Dallin is part of a legacy, it's a big achievement for our family to have one of the boys [make first grade].

"His two older brothers played for Penrith and while they didn't get their chance to make it Dallin has and we're very pleased and his brothers are very proud."

Regardless of his great-grandfather's achievements Watene-Zelezniak, whose bloodlines are Maori and, through his father Joseph, a fusion of Tongan and Polish, acknowledged it was up to him to make his own name.

"I have mixed emotions about playing [first grade], I'm excited, nervous, grateful," he said. "People have advised me not to play the game in my head before the match but It's hard. I'm thinking 'what can I do' because everyone is so much sharper in first grade. I just plan to stick to my game that I know and do what I've always done."

While he grew up in Sydney's western suburbs earmarked as a superstar-in-waiting, Watene-Zelezniak was never allowed to get too big for his boots.

"I still have a long way to go, but I've worked my butt off and I'm grateful for the opportunity," he said. "I didn't think I'd get it so early; can't believe it.

"My family bring me back to earth. At home I'm still doing my day-to-day chores; clean the dishes, clean my room, do the lawn . . . nothing changes just because I play football. My family taught me to be humble and also [my manager] Tyran Smith said a long time ago 'today's newspaper is tomorrow's fish and chip wrapper'."

Smith, who also represented New Zealand, said the Penrith whiz-kid had similar traits to one of his other clients William Hopoate, because he was humble and hardworking. However, he'd advised Watene-Zelezniak the real slog was about to start.

"He's excited to be making his debut but Dallin is level-headed enough to know he still has a lot more work and a lot more listening to do," said Smith.