The Warriors have secured the services of young South Sydney winger Haizyn Mellars on a three-year deal that keeping him in New Zealand until the end of 2028.
Mellars is a towering 193 cm and 100 kg winger who has impressed with his athleticism, speed and finishing ability in the NSW Cup this season.
In nine appearances for the Rabbitohs’ reserve grade side, he scored seven tries and showcased the kind of explosiveness that has scouts convinced he is ready to make the leap to the NRL soon enough if he continues to develop.
Despite his strong form, Mellars found it difficult to crack into South Sydney’s first grade side given their depth out wide, but the move to the Warriors now opens the door for him to push for an NRL debut.
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The signing also carries special meaning as Haizyn follows in the footsteps of his father Vince Mellars, who played for the Warriors in the early 2000s, making the pair a potential father-son duo to represent the club at the highest level.
Vince Mellars had a first grade NRL career of 24 appearances across four seasons playing for the Warriors, Sharks and Roosters scoring six trys as an outside back.
At just 21 years of age, Haizyn Mellars arrives at the Warriors not only with family ties to honour but with the potential to develop into a long-term strike weapon for Andrew Webster’s side.
The Warriors believe his size, youth and upside make him an ideal fit for their plans moving forward, with his versatility and finishing ability offering immediate competition for wing spots in their top-grade squad.
For Mellars, the opportunity to come home and fight for a first grade jersey represents the biggest chance of his young career, and one that could see him quickly become a fan favourite in New Zealand.